The Violin Thief (2016)(washingtonpost.com)
washingtonpost.com
The Violin Thief (2016)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2016/03/17/the-violin-thief/
4 comments
I knew Philip in the 80s as he and I traveled in overlapping circles. I heard him play several times. He was far, far more than a mediocre player. He absolutely could have been a professional orchestra player had he wanted to--and if he had been able to control the abrasive bits of his personality. But nobody who heard him in those days would ever have called him 'mediocre.'
In a certain way, that adds to the tragedy of the whole sordid affair.
In a certain way, that adds to the tragedy of the whole sordid affair.
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It's frustrating how the authors of this article drop bits and pieces of the story only to interrupt themselves. I get they're trying to provide "the bigger picture" or broader context or asking those "big questions" but it would work a lot better if they just told the damn story first.
Phil Johnson's crime was so pointless. He couldn't sell it or use it in a big enough gig. It probably was counter-productive for his career, since he had to cut ties with people in order to conceal the past, while connection is a huge part in world of classical music.
In the end, he died a mediocre player, known not for his playing but his crime.
A more concise version of the story: https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20158/16968/