Stradivarius

Stradivarius violins often sell for millions. There's a long history behind them, and violinists who swear they sound better than modern ones.

The rare instrument, which is 300 years old, belonged to Toscha Seidel, who is widely considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.

The mayor of Cremona, Italy, blocked traffic during five weeks of recording and asked residents to please keep quiet so master musicians could play four instruments — note by note — for posterity.

When the FBI recovered virtuoso violinist Roman Totenberg's stolen Stradivarius after his death, his daughters wanted the instrument to be played everywhere. Ensuring that was not so simple.

Old Italian violins like those made by Stradivari are famous for their ability to project their sound. But a study found people in a blind test thought new violins projected better than old ones.

Mira Wang, protege of the late virtuoso violinist Roman Totenberg, this week debuted his Ames Stradivarius, stolen 37 years ago and reclaimed in 2015. "It's like meeting a new stranger," she says.

For decades, virtuoso violinist Roman Totenberg played his prized Stradivarius around the world. Then one day in 1980 it was snatched. Gone. But in June, the FBI called his daughter with news.

Milwaukee Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond was carrying his rare Stradivarius violin out to the parking lot after a show when he was suddenly attacked. The violin, worth millions, was stolen.

How much of a brand is real? How much is in our heads?

Police in Milwaukee have recovered a Stradivarius violin and arrested three suspects in its theft. The instrument, said to be worth approximately $5 million, was stolen in a brazen armed robbery from the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra late last month. Mitch Teich of WUWM in Milwaukee reports on the violin's recovery.