300 years in the making: For the first time since the crime, Stradivarius played at Wisconsin Lutheran College

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For the first time since it was stolen, a very rare instrument returned to the stage at Wisconsin Lutheran College on Tuesday evening, February 10th. Many feared its last show on that stage would be its final performance. The Lapinski Stradivarius was stolen from the Wisconsin Lutheran College parking lot in January of 2014. More than one year later, a celebration at the scene of the crime.

It was a celebration 300 years in the making. As Frank Almond played the Stradivarius at Wisconsin Lutheran College Tuesday evening, those who helped to recover it were also given a standing ovation.

In every great performance, the plot is never simple.

"There`s aspects of mystery, tragedy and comedy all rolled up into this thing," Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said.

In the drama involving the stolen Stradivarius violin, the greatest performance may not have happened on the stage, but rather, behind the scenes.

"We`re just darn glad members of this department rose to the occasion," Chief Flynn said.

More than a year ago, two men stole the rare Stradivarius violin in the parking lot of Wisconsin Lutheran College. Concertmaster Frank Almond was tasered and the treasured instrument vanished.

"There was a lot of pressure on us," Chief Flynn said.

On Tuesday night, Almond and members of the Milwaukee Police Department returned to the scene of the crime.

"It's also great being here -- being at this wonderful institution for a concert event, rather than a crime scene," Chief Flynn said.

For the first time since the crime, the concertmaster and the rare violin took the stage.

"Without the work that these men, and women and many others in that whole case, this concert literally would not have happened," Frank Almond said.

It was a celebration for the instrument, which recently turned 300 years old, and those who helped to save it.

"I'm very grateful for that," Almond said.

The men who stole the instrument were arrested, convicted, and are both serving time in prison.

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