Northwestern lecturer attacked with stun gun, robbed of Stradivarius violin

[cali]

Source: Chicago Tribune


MILWAUKEE—
A 300-year-old Stradivarius violin on loan to Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond was stolen during an armed robbery after a performance by Almond at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said Tuesday.

Almond, a lecturer at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, was attacked with a stun gun and robbed of the instrument - Flynn said it was valued in the “high seven figures” - shortly before 10:30 p.m. Monday in a parking lot in the rear of the school, 8815 W. Wisconsin Ave., the chief said at a news conference.

As Almond lay on the pavement the robber fled to a nearby vehicle, described as a maroon or burgundy minivan driven by an accomplice, which then left the scene, Flynn said.

Almond had played a concert Monday evening at Wisconsin Lutheran as part of his Frankly Music series.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-northwestern-lecturer-attacked-with-stun-gun-robbed-of-stradivarius-violin-20140129,0,7547777.story

[magical thyme]

1. probably already delivered to some no-talent 0.01%er

for private enjoyment, and will only be recovered long after his/her death.

[adirondacker]

2. The Red Violin!

[fierywoman]

3. no dough

Or the idiot thief didn't know that you can't sell an instrument of that notoriety because it would immediately be known to be stolen goods. Every violin dealer on the planet has records on every millimeter of that instrument. Besides, part of what gives that kind of instrument its value are the "papers" that accompany it (over centuries, in this case) and follows it's provenance -- and you don't carry the papers in the case, you keep them locked away until you sell. So, unless it's the previous commenter's scenario, a Strad worth millions in essence is worth nothing. My bet is it turns up in a pawn shop. Although, some instruments end up in the hands of one of the Mafias and they hold it for ransom -- but that comes to nothing in the end either.

[TheMightyFavog]

4. Ends up in Mafia hands?

Wow. It's been ages since the mob was prevalent in Milwaukee. Not since the days of Frank Ballistreri.

[mike dub]

5. I'd second your comment, fierywoman

I recently watched an interview with renowned American violinist Joshua Bell. He said the same thing about Strads outside of their rightful owners' hands: they're essentially worthless in a thief's hands.

[MsPithy]

9. I think some Richey Rich has already built the environmentally

controlled room behind the safe room where he can gaze at his prize.

Of course, if the insurance company offers enough of a reward, that might loosen some lips. That means Richey Rich needs to make everyone involved, disappear. The crime keeps getting bigger and bigger and more hard to manage. But, Richey's biggest problem is that the insurance company will never give up.

It appears I watch too many caper movies.

[vkkv]

6. Very odd. Sounds fishy.. inside job?

Frank Almond made sure there no witnesses in his plan it seems.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. I doubt anyone who loves music enough to be a violinist would stage that.

I am a violinist and pianist, and I gasped and said "Oh my God!" when I read the summary on the front page of DU.

I don't think you know the great love we have for our instruments, that help us speak our love to the world, and I think that comment that it could be an inside job for insurance money is insulting to any musician.

That sort of crime breaks my heart. I hate to see ANY musical instrument stolen or destroyed. Pictures of destroyed pianos (like the one the Beatles destroyed under a tree) disturb me greatly.

When Erica Morini died in 1995, some one stole her fiddle and it has never been recovered. It was quite expensive. It was a named Strad, the Davidoff Stradivarius made in 1727. She also had a Guadagnini.

Something people other than fiddlers never think about is the cost of a bow. A good bow can cost several thousand dollars. The best bows were made by Tourte and are worth fortunes. Bows are made out of pernambuco wood, which grows in Brazil and is endangered. Bow-making is an art just as instrument making is an art.

[AngryAmish]

10. That is right. Musicians are not human and do not have human foilables.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. We love our instruments a helluva lot more than we love to commit fraud.

Don't think you understood, but oh well.

The word is "foibles".

[fierywoman]

14. The Hand

And I'm a violist. Regarding what you wrote, have you read "The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture" by Frank R. Wilson ?

[yourmovemonkey]

13. I've had a lot of musicians try to steal my gear.

Besides touring, I also worked in clubs back in the 90s. There were plenty of times we had to retrieve instruments that were 'accidentally' put in the wrong car at the end of the night. Sorry to say it, but musicians are people too.

I actually hope this instrument was stolen by a musician. At least they would know not to leave it in the trunk of a car for several days in sub-zero weather. That sort of treatment could destroy a delicate violin. Whoever it was, I hope it's recovered undamaged.

[1000words]

8. Good luck trying to fence a Stradivarius

[Hestia]

12. Some 1%'er could have paid these guys to steal and then hid it in their personal collection

Isn't that what we heard that happened when Iraq was being invaded? "Collectors" had shopping lists of what they wanted, why not this Stradivarius violin too?