One of the world's finest vintage Italian violins is to sound again after more than 50 years, the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) said Tuesday.
The violin, one of only 100 supreme creations of famed 18th-century violin maker Giuseppe Guarnieri, will be played when the ACO opens its 2007 season next month.
The 'Carrodus', named after English violinist John Carrodus, was recently donated to the ACO by an anonymous collector.
"I am overwhelmed by the generosity and vision of the owners of this extraordinary instrument," said ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti.
Tognetti, who will play the $10 million violin, added that "it is a supreme honour to have the custodianship of this instrument".
"As soon as I placed my bow on the strings it was a revelation".
"I've never played a similar instrument," he added, describing its sound as "austere, rich and complex".
London dealers cited by the ACO said the 'Carrodus' was one of the world's five finest violins still being played.
