Instrument dealer says Frank Almond 'very cautious' about violin security

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | 1-29-14 | Jim Higgins

[afraidfortherepublic]

Chicago violin dealer Stefan Hersh, a close friend of Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond, said he was stunned when Almond called to tell him that robbers Monday evening took the priceless Stradivarius violin he plays.

"I've never heard of an armed robbery for a violin," said Hersh, founder of Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins, which buys and sells rare instruments.

Hersh, also a violinist himself, examined the Lipinski Stradivarius with Almond when the instrument's anonymous owner offered to loan it to Almond. Almond has played the instrument in concert since 2008.

Hersh said his initial presumption was that the stolen violin would be recovered quickly, because "there's no black market for them."

However, "the more time goes on, the more organized this looks," Hersh said.

When it comes to security for a fine instrument, the basic protocol is to make sure you don't leave it unattended, Hersh said. Some insurance contracts will not pay out if the instrument is left unattended in a car or elsewhere. That explains why people might see the members of a string quartet bring their instruments into a diner when they eat, he said.

Almond "is on the very cautious side" when it comes to security for the violin, Hersh said. "He and I wouldn't be friends if he wasn't."

The owner or curator of a famous painting can develop a close and emotional bond with it, Hersh said. But as a musician, when a person uses a Stradivarius to make music, "the bond is even closer." In Almond's case, playing the Lipinski Strad joins him to a tradition going back to the violinist Tartini and including a whole bunch of interesting people, Hersh pointed out.

As a musician and violin dealer, Hersh worries that the stolen violin might be affected by rapid changes...

[Mr. K]

I suspect the violinist. He has a shifty look about him...

[Revolting cat!]

Strat found!

[Beagle8U]

That too.

[dfwgator]

There’s too much sax and violins out there.

[Revolting cat!]

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond

I suspect Almond is nuts!

[UB355]

He was nowhere near a ghetto when the incident took place.

[Beagle8U]

http://www.reference.com/example-sentences/foresaw

[a fool in paradise]

I suspect the violinist. He has a shifty look about him...

"HEY!!!"

[Beagle8U]

Detroit = ghetto

Milwaukee = ghetto

To say that any part of either city isn’t a ghetto is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Nobody could have foresaw that."

http://www.verbix.com/webverbix/English/foresee.html

[Beagle8U]

Either works, it did for me.

[Sacajaweau]

Undoubtedly Sean Connery got a new gig.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Who need propor grammer enyway?

[Revolting cat!]

Illiteracy works for the illiterate.

[Sacajaweau]

This is not an English class. I think it's just deliberate and demeaning to correct people in these matters.

Many of us see our erros and let them go because correcting is a pain and serves no purpose.

In short....It's unkind.

[headsonpikes]

He have indeed!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Yes Mr. President.

[Mygirlsmom]

But normally when something like this is stolen, it’s stolen by another collector or by a nutcase who feels that he is the only one who really understands it and can really take care of it. The heirs might try to sell it, but he won’t, generally.

I'm not saying this is the case, but in some instances, it's the owner attempting to collect on an insurance policy.

Regardless, I would bet that the perps were not the ones who crafted this scheme. They were probably hired by someone to steal the violin.

[Mygirlsmom]

WI Lutheran is nowhere near the ghetto. Milwaukee is NOT Detroit - yet.