Posted on 01/29/2014 12:26:19 PM PST by 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...
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
inside job for sure.
Bassoons are 13-20k. I don't, never have, and probably never will, understand string people.
I attended a clinic with Buster Williams, and he was playing a 400 year old German bass that had the most sustain I've ever heard.
So this guy says Almond was “very cautious”. Big Whoop!
Next time someone tries to mug someone anywhere, the victim should shout “Watch out, I’m VERY CAUTIOUS!!!”, and see if that stops the robbery.
The guy was careless by not being trained in firearms handling or at least having someone with him who was, every time he was vulnerable to theft, especially outside at night.
People steal everything not nailed down. A multi-million dollar violin that many people know the location of (a publicized concert) is a high risk item. He was stupid to not take precautions.
The whole MKE coastline is easily part of the 'hood depending on who shows up for what.
"I'm thinking about it...."
They’re probably living peacefully with some “collector,” who may not even play them(or lets somebody else, some unknowimg person, play them to keep them healthy).
This story makes me really sad. Go back to the first story posted (yesterday) and scroll down. Somebody posted a clip of Almond playing the Lipinski near the bottom of the first page. It’s just beautiful . Perhaps you’ll begin to understand “string people” then.
Wow! That list is mind boggling.
erros? Is that some kind of exotica?
(Don’t get mad. I’m just kidding you. I hate it when I make a typo when correcting somebody.)
I watched that clip. Absolutely beautiful. I understand the musicianship, just not the attitude I tend to encounter.
Hopefully that helps explain.
LOLOL! String players probably learned that ‘tude in elementary school when the trumpets (and other winds/brasses) totally dominated the sound of the orchestra, or band. The trumpets, trombones, clarinets, saxes, etc. delighted in proving that they could blow harder and make a bigger noise than all the strings put together. The strings just never got over the humiliation you guys put them through in 6th grade!
Oh gee! I thought you meant Eros...EROS was the mischievous god of love, a minion and constant companion of the goddess Aphrodite.
Oh gee! I thought you meant Eros...EROS was the mischievous god of love, a minion and constant companion of the goddess Aphrodite.
Had four years of Latin (1958-1961).
Reading about the gods and goddesses in Latin was great fun.
**
My sons lived in Madison for a year.
You never cease to surprise.
I played violin, too. My mom said she would give me the dollar if I would give it up.
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