The shocking photos accompanying Myrna Herzog’s social media post on 3 January of her destroyed viola da gamba sent her complaint globally viral. 

It was also seen by Günter Krause, guitarist and lead singer of German progressive rock band Rufus Zuphall, who felt moved to compose a piece for viol and get in touch with Herzog. In this video, Herzog herself performs the work on a ‘twin’ instrument, also by 17th-century English maker Edward Lewis.

The damanged viol is currently being restored by luthier Shlomo Moyal and Herzog is still waiting for the results of Alitalia’s investigation into the incident.