Robbers target Cleveland Orch violinist

Robbers target Cleveland Orch violinist

main

norman lebrecht

July 28, 2018

As if they don’t have enough troubles…

 A violinist for the Cleveland Orchestra was robbed at gunpoint during a home invasion late Thursday by three robbers who stole his two violins worth $38,000, police said.

The 33-year-old violinist who joined the orchestra in 2013, ran across his rooftop as he was being chased by one of three robbers, police reports say.

His 33-year-old fiancee was pistol-whipped during the robbery, police said. No arrests have been made in the case and police are searching for the violins and the car stolen during the home invasion….

(from Cleveland.com)

Read on here.

 

Comments

  • John Borstlap says:

    Some people who want to set-up a string quartet but don’t have any money, go to great lengths to get the necessary instruments.

  • Novagerio says:

    “Boor-slap”, the composer who openly despises Arnold Schönberg without realizing that Arnold actually changed music history. He on the other hand won’t.
    How ever he never misses the chance of adding a pun or a moralizng comment here. Where would misters Slap-boor and Osborne be without Slippedisc (!!)…

    • John Borstlap says:

      Happy to add some interest to your intellectual and musical panorama, which seems to be in need of some.

      Post scriptum: nobody ‘changes’ music history, because nobody is in charge of music history. History is interpretation after the event, and such interpretations change with the times. Artists don’t define or change historic developments but produce artistic work. Interpretation comes after it and can differ considerably from any intention by the author. Claims that this or that artist ‘defines’ or ‘changes’ history are born from authoritarian ideologies which serve certain interests, and such interests are seldom artistic.

      You should read my book, it seems that you are in dire need of some enlightenment.

  • Bruce says:

    Oh come on now, don’t pick on Borstlap. Lots of people on here like to make jokes about others’ misfortunes, injuries and deaths.

  • David K. Nelson says:

    What a nightmare for the musician and his girlfriend.

    I have a bad feeling this is going to become more common as thieves, needing money for drugs, realize that orchestral musicians often have an asset – their instrument or instruments (and bows) — out of sync with their economic and social position and thus their housing situations. Most people owning a $38,000 or $100,000 “thing” live in gated communities or high rises with guards, or are otherwise less vulnerable to thievery.

    By contrast, most musicians I know live in rather more gritty, urban surroundings. Often their instrument is the only indicia of luxury in their lives.

    • John Borstlap says:

      True, and it is remarkable that in recent times, theft of musical instruments seems to be on the rise, not only in terms of burglaries but also in public transportation. While interest in classical music is eroding, a certain type of interest in its instruments is increasing. One would want to have it the other way around – maby when thieves are caught, forcing them to endure a crash course in music appreciation, guarded by police officers. Or, get them learning to play their catch – that is, substitutions after the originals have been returned to their owner. Which may be either a greatly inspiring experience or a pulverizing punishment, depending on talent and type of instrument.

      • Sharon says:

        Many cities in the United States have a voluntary registration program for bicycles with the police department where a number is etched on the bicycle. I understatnd that police departments in other jurisdictions have a voluntary registration program for other valuable items. Sometimes insurance companies register items. In yesteryear all typewriters were numbered and computers can be also.

        Maybe police departments or even musicians unions or orchestras should have voluntary registration programs for valuable instruments. Yeah, a number etched on an object can be erased with enough effort, maybe; but if it is more likely that the thief will be unable to fence an item or if it takes more effort to do so it is less likely that instruments will be targeted.

        As far as joking about it is concerned, this was not your standard burglary with no one home. The guy had a harrowing chase across rooftops and the woman was hit repeatedly with a pistol. Both could have easily lost their lives and could very well suffer severe psychological trauma over this incident. May they both find peace.

  • MOST READ TODAY: