A viola is stolen on an Italian train
NewsThe German violist Simone von Rahden, a mmber of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, has asked us to assist in the recovery of her precious instrument.
Date, time and place of the theft:
27.08.2021, between Milano Centrale and Firenze S.M.N. station, 19:00 – 21:10, on the Frecciarossa 9559, coach 4.
Content of the case:
– viola made by Stephan von Baehr Paris „SVB fine Violins“, after a model of Andrea Guarneri, made in 2005, 41.5 cm, in very fine condition. Tailpiece and pegs of rosewood. Currently, there is a chinrest of black wood on the viola, a piece of dark leather fixed to the back and the strings are Evah Pirazzi Gold.
– viola bow made by Nicolas Maline around 1850, round stick of amourette wood, the frog and button are mounted in ebony/nickle. The thumb leather has recently been scraped off a bit and the mother of pearl on the bottom of the frog is slightly damaged, otherwise the bow is in very fine condition.
– viola bow made by James Tubbs, branded W.E.Hill on both sides from around 1870, round pernambuco stick, silver mounted with a fishbone (imitation) winding, in excellent condition.
Both bows weigh around 58 gr.
The shaped BAM case with a floral design (all in black) was covered with a black soft-cover with shoulder straps. There are two black-and-white stickers on it: one from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and one that says “Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler”.
Furthermore, the case also contained my Microsoft “Surface Go” laptop in blue/silver, in an envelope that has my name (pre- and post-marriage) and contact details written on it.
58 g doesn’t sound right for a viola bow.
I hope she recovers her property soon.
Just as violin bows vary in weight from about 56 g to 65 g or so, viola bows also vary, though it would be a bit unlikely to have two such viola bows. A possibly more likely circumstance would be a typographical error changing 68 (a typical viola bow weight) to 58 by accidentally getting the adjacent digit…
I forget the details after so many years, but in the 1980s a violinist in the Teatro Regio had her instrument stolen. Someone in the orchestra had connections to a local mafia leader. She got her instrument back the next day with “sincere” apologies from the thief. Probably also because high quality stolen string instruments have little to no resale value since they are easily identifiable.
I would guess that the police have video cameras at all train stations. The thief probably got off at the next stop.
“someone in the orchestra had connections to a local mafia leader” ….is this supposed to be a feel good story?
As you should know from movies, sometimes all you need to do is be born into a “connected” family.
“My colleague is very distressed, I wish I could help. Oh I know! I’ll ask my uncle Enzo if he’s heard anything…”
As an instruction to all travellers in Italy it would be helpful to have the details of the theft? Was the case left alone for a moment and why? Or was it taken away under the eyes of the owner? Was it just forgotten at the station and disappeared thereafter? Or what else can be imagined?
Agreed. “Stolen” instruments so often mean forgotten, left behind, pinched as nobody seems to want them by a passing opportunist.
That is of course theft, but “stolen” implies to me that someone came and took it from you.
What you’re really saying is, “describe how you were negligent, so we can blame you.” Judging from comments on previous posts of this nature, nothing short of being beaten unconscious is satisfactory (photographic proof of bruises & bandages, preferably taken in a hospital bed, required for full approval).
The post does say it happened on the train between Milano & Firenze, and which coach, so unfortunately that takes the “forgot it at the station” option off the table.
But the “went to the restroom for 5 minutes and asked my seatmate to keep an eye on it for me; when I came back, both seatmate and viola had disappeared” option is still available, as well as the “fell asleep and failed to handcuff it to my wrist” option, as well as many others I’m sure.
“Or what else can be imagined?” -Always a great option if no further information becomes available.
Well, was it wrested from her hand? or was it there for the taking, implying SOME negligence?
Thanks for the confirmation.
Why should such instruction apply only to travelers in Italy?
Bill, I love Italy and lived there. Unfortunately, thiefs are rampant in the country.
You mean Simone Jandl?
I’ve lost count of how many times Norman has posted a story about a string player losing an instrument. Why can’t they be careful….like percussionists?
It’s hard to sell just one timpani, and most pawn shops don’t want them.
One timpano makes a splendid coffee table.
Maybe she should just offer a cash reward for its safe return. I doubt the thieves care about the instrument.
How much was the viola worth?
Far less than the bows….
I can imagine the thief’s disappointment when he will find out that what he has stolen was not a violin…
First of all normal traveling of any sort with an instrument case of this size is incredibly awkward. You want to minimize how often it is bumped or jostled so the hope is to find a quiet place for it and let it sit there. There is no room for you and the case in the typical train (or airline or bus) toilet facility. You can’t carry it with you while walking thru a metal detector. Even trying to find a place for an instrument case in some restaurants is a genuine chore, no easier in a railroad dining car.
And if someone takes something that isn’t theirs, even if it is just “sitting there” unattended, that is still theft in my book.
A bit of internet searching suggests that a viola by this respected living maker may run in the £25,000 – £50,000 range. That and old bows by Tubbs and Maline, a nice case — hell even a set of Evah Pirazzi strings ain’t cheap and I’d wager the (unmentioned) cake of rosin in the case was “the good stuff” — make this a major theft.
Sometimes the first ig hurdle is to convey to the police just how much in money has been stolen when something as “small” as an instrument case is stolen and how seriously they should take this. That is what Frank Almond learned when his Strad as brazenly stolen from his hands – the thief shot him with a taser gun — here in MIlwaukee. It took a while before the police fully understood that this was one of the biggest thefts in Milwaukee history in terms of value. The fact that it made international news was one of their big tip offs!
The real fear with stolen instruments and bows is that the thief or thieves upon learning that the item is not readily converted into cash, just throw it in the river or in a dumpster.
I’ve taken my viola through hundreds of metal detectors whilst on international tours.