Title : Instrument 'savagely vandalized' on Alitalia flight
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Instrument 'savagely vandalized' on Alitalia flight
- Brazilian-born Israeli Myrna Herzog has posted pictures of her wrecked viola da gamba on Facebook
- The 66-year-old claimed that Alitalia was responsible and said in her post that it 'hated musicians'
- Ms Herzog said that she tried to pay for a seat for the instrument, but was told that the plane was ‘super full’
A distressed musician has published shocking pictures of her 17th-century instrument emerging on an airport luggage carousel ‘savagely vandalized’.
Brazilian-born Israeli Myrna Herzog has posted pictures of her viola da gamba on Facebook, showing that it has been severely damaged, with one half of the front ripped off, despite being in a hard case with a 'fragile' sticker displayed.
The viola da gamba is one of the world's rarest musical instruments and one made in 1708 sold at auction for $212,000 (£156,000).
The 66-year-old, who has performed with the Israel Philharmonic and other notable ensembles around the world, was travelling from Rio de Janeiro to Tel Aviv via Rome when the damage occurred and claimed that Alitalia was responsible.
Brazilian-born Israeli Myrna Herzog has posted pictures of her viola da gamba on Facebook after it emerged severely damaged from an Alitalia flight
Herzog claimed that it was Alitalia's fault - though some have pointed out that the baggage handlers may well be to blame
She wrote: ‘Alitalia hates musicians! This is how Alitalia delivered my original 17th-century Lewis viola da gamba, after ensuring to me that it would be taken by hand into the plane and out of it.
‘It was savagely vandalized and it seems that a car ran over it.
‘So far no luck in contacting any human being at Alitalia.’
Ms Herzog said that she tried to pay for a seat for the cello-like instrument, but was told that it would have to go in the hold as the plane was ‘super full’.
Herzog wrote on Facebook: ‘Alitalia hates musicians! This is how Alitalia delivered by original 17th-century Lewis viola da gamba, after ensuring to me that it would be taken by hand into the plane and out of it'. The musician added that she has previously stowed the instrument in the hold without any problems
Dave Webster, National Organiser Live Performance at the Musicians Union, said that Ms Herzog's ordeal 'is a horrible demonstration of the vulnerability of musicians when they're travelling across the world'
The musician added that she has previously stowed the instrument in the hold without any problems.
Her Facebook post has received hundreds of comments and been shared over 30,000 times.
Lucy Robinson, who works at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, wrote: ‘Shameful! Dear Myrna I am so sorry.’
Ms Herzog plays her viola da gamba. Other musicians have described the damage to her instrument as 'appalling'
And Bretislove Estanislao said: 'That is just disgraceful! RIP viola da gamba, my heart bleeds.'
Another commenter pointed out that Alitalia may not be directly responsible, saying: 'Probably the airport operators where you have landed are guilty, not Alitalia.'
Dave Webster, National Organiser Live Performance at the Musicians Union, described the damage as 'appalling'.
He said: 'It's appalling that this was allowed to happen. The thing is, you can't even compensate for an instrument of that nature. It's a horrible demonstration of the vulnerability of musicians when they're travelling across the world. This is the instrument of her employment - when it's destroyed, what do you do?
'We have this struggle with the airlines - an instrument is a living, breathing instrument that should be respected. Musicians should be allowed to have it in the cabin with them. They should be able to strap it into a seat for a minimal cost, or no cost at all.
'We implore airlines to listen to us. This case highlights the problem that musicians face as they travel the globe. We need the airline industry to engage with music unions to guarantee better conditions for travelling musicians, to give them peace of mind. Air travel is very stressful for musicians. An instrument not only is incredibly personal to them but after disembarking they then have to perform at the height of their ability when they step off the plane.'
British composer and violinist Fiona Brice added: 'International travel is a normal part of a professional musician’s job and the airlines need to respect this and put an end to the daily game of "check-in roulette". These instruments cannot be physically compensated for when they are damaged. It is a death. The end of a historical line.'
Alitalia has been contacted by MailOnline Travel for a comment.
Herzog said that she tried to buy a seat for her instrument but was told that the flight was too full (stock image)
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