Galway Awaiting News on Stolen Flutes

“I’ve not heard a thing,” says the familiar voice in that unmistakable brogue.

On the phone from Lucerne, Switzerland, James Galway refers to the theft of five gold flutes from his luggage the day he returned home to Switzerland from his summer tour of the United States late last month.

Though the Irish flutist has since offered a reward--10% of the value of the instruments (500,000 Swiss francs or $303,350 American, with no questions asked)--he has gotten no response.

Four of them were custom-produced by the Japanese flute maker Muramatsu. These four have hand-engraved ornamentation, and three are decorated with diamond studs at the head of the instrument. The fifth flute is the handiwork of the Boston craftsman Dana Sheridan, whom Galway calls “one of the best of the young American flute makers.”

Because of their uniqueness, the 49-year-old musician says, these instruments cannot safely be bought or sold publicly.

“And, because they are an alloy, only 14 karat, they would not be worth much if melted down. Whoever took them must be an idiot. His only hope, probably, is to negotiate with me and the insurance company.”

Galway said the flutes were in an inexpensive black nylon bag to disguise the valuable flutes inside. When he and his wife, Jeannie, arrived at the Lucerne train station July 26, they were met by family members and carried their luggage--with the flutes--in two hand trolleys. When they arrived home, the black bag was missing.

Galway said he reported the loss to the police but “I won’t prosecute.”

In the meantime, Galway says, he has “one of my old favorites, from the distant past, actually, the flute I played on at my debut at Hollywood Bowl,” for practice.

And next week, he announces, “Mr. Muramatsu has promised to deliver three new gold flutes to me. How’s that for service?”

What if the stolen flutes re-appear?

“Mr. Muramatsu can sell them.”

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