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]

Yeah, I bet he was in some type of Rackett like that. Probably used a Recorder as well. Cello to my little friend.

[SunkenCiv]

Strad the impaler!

[left that other site]

He doesn’t have allegro to stand on.

[Red Badger]

I would have pulled out my Glockenspieled his blood all over the floor..............

[Red Badger]

He didn’t get away with any lute...............

[Red Badger]

I don’t really believe his story. He’s a lyre...............

[Theoria]

I’ve been Chopin at the this for awhile, I’m gonna Bach off, I hope most the people Igor me.

[Red Badger]

You threw out the first pitch................

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Arzberger?

Is he related to the doctor who discovered autism in England?

[Robert A Cook PE]

There’s a joke somewhere in here...

I dunno, did they walk into a bar?

Yep. And all noted that their staff and their rod was held firmly in hand ...

Seriously ..Breaking into a hotel room with a 64 year inside?

[left that other site]

You’re just being Modeste.

[Theoria]

I was just making a Liszt.

[Theoria]

Otto go Bach to something I’m Abel at.

[left that other site]

Maybe he should hire the legal firm of Rimsky & Korsakov.

They Shehare a hard-nosed law practice.

[Red Badger]

Have a hot cup of Rococo and forget about all this sax and violins...................

[Grateful2God]

Lol, am enjoying! Thanks for the ping!

[Red Badger]

Maybe he was just looking for some new members for a sextet...................

[left that other site]

Rococo is ok but I’m Pro-coffeiev myself.

[Theoria]

Always keep Johann off other people.

[Red Badger]

Well, she wasn’t minor..............