NYPD finds New York Philharmonic flutist’s stolen instruments
Cops track down piccolo and flute to upper Westside flophouse
BY BARRY PADDOCK / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
COURTESY ALEXANDRA SOPP
New York Philharmonic flutist Alexandra Sopp
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DCPI
Alexandra Sopp's recovered flute. Sopp is a flutist with the New York Philharmonic.
A New York Philharmonic flutist was miraculously reunited with her “irreplaceable” instruments, which were swiped from a bar Sunday as she celebrated a performance.
“It’s every musician’s worst nightmare,” said Alexandra Sopp, 28, who has performed with Bjork and composer Philip Glass.
“They’re one of a kind, handmade — they’re totally irreplaceable.”
Saturday night began in triumph as she played a demanding flute solo at Symphony Space on the upper West Side.
Afterward, she headed around the corner to Dive Bar on Amsterdam Ave., where she partied with fellow musicians.
“It was a big deal for me,” she said. “We were going out to celebrate these really difficult pieces, incredibly stressful performances, that went great. But then the night took a surreal turn.”
Sopp was carrying a leather bag containing her instruments — worth more than $40,000 — only to notice the bag missing about 3 a.m.
“When I was ready to leave, I turned around and it wasn’t there,” she said.
Her $25,000, 14-karat gold-plated flute — with an $8,000 one-of-kind headpiece — and $8,000 wooden piccolo had been snatched.
“I was beside myself,” said Sopp, who has performances scheduled throughout the summer with the Philharmonic.
“I’ve traveled around the world with these instruments,” Sopp said. “They’re always with me. It’s like losing an arm — I was so emotional.”
After reviewing security camera footage showing a man leaving the bar with the bag, cops were able to arrest Gary Richards, 48, who lives in an SRO around the corner from the bar.
Richards was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, police said.
Cops reunited Sopp with her beloved instruments just hours after they were filched.
“I was ecstatic,” she said. “I just said, ‘Thank you,’ a billion times. I’m so grateful.”
With Finn Vigeland
bpaddock@nydailynews.com
NYPD finds New York Philharmonic flutist’s stolen instruments
Cops track down piccolo and flute to upper Westside flophouse
BY BARRY PADDOCK / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
COURTESY ALEXANDRA SOPP
New York Philharmonic flutist Alexandra Sopp
RELATED STORIES
- Theater review: ‘Murder in the First’
- Scout Willis arrested: Demi Moore & Bruce Willis' daughter, 20, busted with beer at Union Square
- ‘Teen Mom’ star Amber Portwood sentenced to five years in prison after opting out of rehab
- Kareem (Biggs) Burke gets 5 years for conspiring to distribute pot
- Judge won't allow accusers to use pseudonyms in Jerry Sandusky case
- Brooke Mueller’s lawyers: She's not in rehab because of ex Charlie Sheen
DCPI
Alexandra Sopp's recovered flute. Sopp is a flutist with the New York Philharmonic.
A New York Philharmonic flutist was miraculously reunited with her “irreplaceable” instruments, which were swiped from a bar Sunday as she celebrated a performance.
“It’s every musician’s worst nightmare,” said Alexandra Sopp, 28, who has performed with Bjork and composer Philip Glass.
“They’re one of a kind, handmade — they’re totally irreplaceable.”
Saturday night began in triumph as she played a demanding flute solo at Symphony Space on the upper West Side.
Afterward, she headed around the corner to Dive Bar on Amsterdam Ave., where she partied with fellow musicians.
“It was a big deal for me,” she said. “We were going out to celebrate these really difficult pieces, incredibly stressful performances, that went great. But then the night took a surreal turn.”
Sopp was carrying a leather bag containing her instruments — worth more than $40,000 — only to notice the bag missing about 3 a.m.
“When I was ready to leave, I turned around and it wasn’t there,” she said.
Her $25,000, 14-karat gold-plated flute — with an $8,000 one-of-kind headpiece — and $8,000 wooden piccolo had been snatched.
“I was beside myself,” said Sopp, who has performances scheduled throughout the summer with the Philharmonic.
“I’ve traveled around the world with these instruments,” Sopp said. “They’re always with me. It’s like losing an arm — I was so emotional.”
After reviewing security camera footage showing a man leaving the bar with the bag, cops were able to arrest Gary Richards, 48, who lives in an SRO around the corner from the bar.
Richards was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, police said.
Cops reunited Sopp with her beloved instruments just hours after they were filched.
“I was ecstatic,” she said. “I just said, ‘Thank you,’ a billion times. I’m so grateful.”
With Finn Vigeland
bpaddock@nydailynews.com
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