[MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON] YANAGISAWA ALTO SAXOPHONE, PROBABLY USED BY ROBIN WILLIAMS FOR "MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON"

800 Series (serial number 00112758), gold lacquer finish, with reeds, in original case.

Dave Itzkoff, Robin, New York 2018, pp. 181-182

800 Series (serial number 00112758), gold lacquer finish, with reeds, in original case. Includes handkerchief, Leblanc Kork-eze Cork Grease, neck strap, neck pipe, and complete body. Some minor wear commensurate with age and use.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This alto saxophone appears to have been used by Robin Williams in Moscow On The Hudson (Columbia Pictures, 1984), or used in training for the part. "The film's protagonist ... was originally supposed to be a ballet dancer, and [Paul] Mazursky had hoped to cast Mikhail Baryshnikov in the role. But when Baryshnikov passed, Mazyrsky rewrote the lead as a saxophonist in a Moscow circus making it a better fit for Robin... Before he left California to start filming, Robin had Greg Phillips teach him to play the saxophone for scenes like the one where his character performs "Take the 'A' Train" for a stable of circus animals. For hours each day they would practice at the Napa ranch ... Phillips was astonished at how quickly Robin took to it."