PORTLAND, Oregon — Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas are world-class musicians, with world-class instruments that were ripped off the day before their Portland performance. Now, they are asking for help to watch out for what they've lost.
For twenty years, Fraser has toured with Haas — fiddle and cello, making magic around the world, including many times in Portland. They arrived this time on Monday, a day early so they could enjoy the city.
They parked at a public garage at SW 10th Avenue and Taylor Street for just a few hours, and that's all it took: the vehicle's windows were smashed, and everything was stolen.
“So, a lot of financial and emotional value and items that are very storied; you know each of these items has a story to tell — and so, yes — it's a pretty big punch," Fraser said. "I can't believe I’m leaving Portland with no fiddle today.”
Fraser is a native Scotlander who has been playing the fiddle nearly his whole life.
"I lost four bows in my violin case and a violin that I love — and it's not just the instruments; Natalie lost a suitcase of her personal belongings," added Fraser, who said the suitcase included lots of gifts his partner had picked up on tour that she planned to give loved ones during the holidays.
After filing a police report, Fraser spent the week putting up posters in the area downtown where it happened. His suitcase was found opened and emptied in nearby Shemanski Park, in the park blocks. Amazingly, a man returned Haas’s cello, which he bought on the street for $40, because he felt bad about having it.
But everything else is still missing. Fraser has also posted on social media about the stolen items:
“I'm upset about the loss of my stuff; I'm also about the state of play in our cities, and it's not just in Portland," he said.
But Fraser said from what he’s experienced this week, Portland is certainly suffering.
“The scene in downtown Portland is pretty depressing, and my partner, Natalie, she says she doesn't want to go back down to downtown Portland again because she's scared,” he said.
Despite that, Fraser said he loves the city and its community: “It's one of my oasis places as a touring musician, not just in this country but in Scotland and Europe and everywhere.”
Now, Fraser is asking Oregonians to keep their eyes out for the stolen items — in pawnshops, online, wherever — to help get them back. You also contact the musical team at https://alasdairandnatalie.com/contact .
“And as I say, people are keen to try and fix this, and I thank you all for that,” he said.
Thanks to the generosity of people here, the show did go on Tuesday night at the Alberta Rose Theatre: Alasdair and Natalie played on borrowed instruments.