Just in: Naked quartet leader appeals for legal funds

Stefan Arzberger, leader of the Leipzig String Quartet who was arrested at the weekend in a Manhattan hotel, has authorised a brief account of events on the ensemble’s site.

They write:

Stefan Arzberger is member of the international renowed Leipzig Quartet. This ensemble with its spectacular carreer since 1988 ranks among the top ten worldwide’s best string quartets. During their US spring tour after the concert in Washington Library of Congress and on a day offs evening in New York City he was drugged, robbed from credit cards, money and personal belongings and was desoriented for the rest of the night.

He woke up with two police officers kneeing on his back. Without any memory of the past 5 hours he was charged assaulting an 64-year-old hotel neighbour. After spending one night in prison he was granted a $100,000 bail. The expenses for preparation of an efficient defense are easily up to $50,000.

Stefan needs help with these expenses. The Quartet add:

We hope for your support and thank you for sharing this! Anyone wanting to donate to his defense fund would be appreciated, no amount is too small. All funds raised are sole for attorney fees.

Thank you!!!

To donate, please click here.

So far today, seven contributors have pledged €592.

UPDATE: Five hours later it’s €1,750 from 25 donors.