Bizarre Court Case Puts a Violinist, and Leipzig String Quartet, in an Unflattering Light

The New York Times ^ | 12 June 2015 | Michael Cooper

[Theoria]

The violinist Stefan Arzberger had planned to play the music of Beethoven, Haydn and Mendelssohn with his colleagues in the Leipzig String Quartet later this month at Wigmore Hall in London, where he fondly recalls once sipping sherry with patrons after a concert.

Instead he finds himself facing a charge of attempted murder in New York City, accused of barging naked into the room of a 64-year-old woman at a Midtown hotel he was staying in while on tour this spring and trying to strangle her. His defense is hardly less lurid: His lawyers say he was drugged by a prostitute he had brought to his room earlier that night.

In his first extended English-language interview since his arrest, Mr. Arzberger — who has received support from a number of musicians, including Kurt Masur, the former music director of the New York Philharmonic, who conducted him in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra — said he did not remember what happened in the early morning hours of March 27, when the attack took place, according to a criminal complaint.

“I spend my time now investigating what happened that night, to find out — because I have no memories,” Mr. Arzberger, 42, who is out on $100,000 bail, said the other day over lunch. “This is something I never had in my life, something like this. No memories at all.”

Now, he faces criminal charges of attempted murder, burglary, strangulation and assault, and a civil suit from the woman.

[Theoria]

'His defense lawyers said they believed that he was drugged earlier that morning by a prostitute he had brought to his hotel room, who they later discovered was a man.'

Sorry, but funny. Gonna learn to play the blues.

[left that other site]

Classical Music Ping?

[Theoria]

Sure....dunno if this is worth listening.

[Cboldt]

The Kinks already did this one, L-O-L-A Lola ...

[chajin]

Another case (get it, case) of sex and violins.

It might have been better if he had gone into Haydn.

Seriously, it isn’t the first lurid tale surrounding a inaptly-named virtuoso, and I fear it will not be the last. Reminds me of the difference between Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, who were musical equals and moral unequals: if Desmond were alive today, it reads like something that would have happened to him.

As a musician who has never hired a prostitute in my life, as a Christian I still harbor a sense of there but for the grace of God, etc.

[Publius]

Great musical puns in this thread.

[left that other site]

Looks like the ho became one by Chopin off something.

[Darksheare]

There’s a joke somewhere in here...

[Publius]

Rush calls it a “chopadicoffamy.” He calls the reverse procedure an “addadictomy.”

[Theoria]

Stay away, this one is too hot to Handel.

[Red Badger]

If the Schubert fits...................

[Darksheare]

At least nobody was Chopin any limbs off.

[Theoria]

Too bad the lady didn’t tell the guy to Bach off, or quit Messiaen around.

[Cyman]

What happens with Leipzig , stays in Leipzig.

How many times must that be repeated?

[Red Badger]

Now, he faces criminal charges of attempted murder, burglary, strangulation and assault, and a civil suit from the woman.

That's quite a Liszt..................

[Theoria]

Your right, it’s nobody’s Bizet but his.

[Red Badger]

...he was drugged earlier that morning by a prostitute he had brought to his hotel room, who they later discovered was a man.'

He just wanted to get his Rachmaninoff..............

[Red Badger]

...and a civil suit from the woman.

Maybe he could just Mahler a check.................

[left that other site]

Rush has a fine Liszt of euphemisms! :-)

[Fast Moving Angel]

There’s a joke somewhere in here...

I dunno, did they walk into a bar?