A Stradivarius violin that could be worth a few million dollars has been stolen in Milwaukee. Police have asked the FBI to help recover the instrument.
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concert master Frank Almond played an instrument called the “Lipinski Stradivarius” violin at Wisconsin Lutheran College on Monday night. But police say as Almond was going to his car, a robber attacked Almond with a taser, took the violin and fled with an accomplice in a waiting minivan.
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn says the Stradivarius, made by Antonio Stradivari in 1715 may be worth into the millions of dollars, but only to certain people.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
“These are wildly valuable to a tiny slice of the art world,” Flynn said, “and so having it really does you no good unless you know somebody in that world who’s prepared to essentially never let it see the light of day again.”
Flynn says the FBI is helping with the investigation into the armed robbery and an international police organization has been alerted. Flynn won’t say the name of the person who owns the violin.
The instrument had been on loan to concert master Almond, a somewhat common practice in classical music. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra president Mark Niehaus says Stradivarius violins will rot if locked away and never used.
“The instruments need to be played to live on,” Niehaus said. “That’s why these instruments are out in circulation, and why they’re played on stages all over the country.”
Niehaus stresses the missing Stradivarius was the only one in Milwaukee, and police say other instruments used by MSO musicians are worth far less.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
