Red Viola reentered my life early Saturday morning in January of the
year 2000. It's been eight years since it was stolen. Its theft was kept
secret from friends, and never spoken about in my family.
On the morning of Saturday, January 8, 2000 I was awakened by a phone call.
The night before my quartet played a three hour gig, and I was exhausted. I
hesitated to answer the phone: the quartet I played in was in the semi
finals of a major competition, and we needed to work without distractions.
Our rehearsal was scheduled for 11AM and I planned to practice prior to the
arrival of my colleagues.
When I finally picked up the phone I heard my Mom's voice. She sounded
cheerful and excited:
"There is a letter marked personal and confidential for you", she said,
"from someone named Linda". "Also", she said, "a woman named Linda called
your uncle a couple days ago, saying she needed to speak with you. I wander
if it's the same person." Since I didn't know anyone named Linda, and was
not expecting anything of personal or confidential nature I let my Mom open
the envelope. There was a long silence. Finally she said: "This woman has
your Red Viola". I asked my mother to read the letter to me. It simply
stated that Linda had purchased a viola, which she thinks was stolen from
me, and she would like to discuss the future of the instrument.
I felt numb. During the past eight years I've grown to loathe this
instrument for the emotional turmoil and financial damage generated by its
theft: over time my hope for its recovery slowly turned to resentment and
despair.
I didn't dare contemplate its recovery, or that it would ever be returned to
me.
After several hours of confusion and soul searching I called Linda……
Dear Reader!
Over the course of subsequent months segments of the Red Viola Story will
appear on this site. This story is true, and events surrounding its theft
and recovery will be featured here. Some names will be changed but the story
line will otherwise stay factual to the events.
Check back for new installments of the Red Viola story