The Violin Channel reports an exclusive behind‑the‑scenes preview of The Paris Experiment, a rigorous blind study led by acoustic researcher Dr. Claudia Fritz and violin maker Joseph Curtin, comparing six old Italian violins (including five by Antonio Stradivari) with six new violins. The study involved ten soloists and is linked to three forthcoming scientific papers, with a related video created for The Strad Project.
The article discusses a 1719 Stradivarius viola known as “the Macdonald,” one of only two Stradivari violas still in private hands. Sotheby’s expects it to sell for more than $45 million in a private sale, potentially setting a record for a musical instrument sold privately or at auction. The Macdonald was acquired by the Amadeus Quartet member Peter Schidlof in 1964 and is now being sold from his estate; bidding may occur through June.
The Los Angeles Times reports on a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing highly accomplished violin soloists cannot reliably distinguish old Stradivari violins from newer ones in blind tests. In a follow-up experiment, soloists tended to rate newer violins higher when age was concealed, with several Stradivari instruments among the old ones.
No clear price data is provided. The article discusses a blind study where ten world-class soloists tested old Stradivari violins against newer, cheaper violins, with the newer instruments winning. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and involved violins by Stradivari and other older Italian makers; co-author Joseph Curtin and lead author Claudia Fritz are named.
The article reports that Wayne Smisek and his wife Betz donated a violin once owned by Thomas Jefferson, valued at $350,000–$400,000, to the Colorado Masonic Library and Museum in Colorado Springs. The firearm? (no) The donation was announced at a Garden of the Gods Club luncheon and the violin, previously owned by the J.W. Forrester family, had connections back to a slave named Ben, and was associated with Jefferson.
The article describes Mark O’Connor, a Maine-made violin by Jonathan Cooper of North Gorham, damaged backstage at a concert in Sioux Falls, SD. The violin, valued at $15,000, had become deeply significant to O’Connor, who compares its sound and personality to Stéphane Grappelli.
The article describes Margaret Batjer assembling eight rare Stradivari violins for Strad Fest LA, culminating in a $750 gala at the California Club in Los Angeles that raised $535,000 for LACO programs. Notable instruments named include the 1666 SERDET, 1708 RUBY, 1711 KREISLER, 1714 LEONORA JACKSON, 1715 TITIAN, 1716 MILSTEIN, circa 1720 BEECHBACK, and 1720 RED MENDELSSOHN; ownership and provenance are mentioned for several of them.
A Stradivarius alto known as the Macdonald, crafted in 1719 by Antonio Stradivari, is estimated to fetch over 32.6 million euros at auction. The instrument, one of only ten altos by Stradivari in the world, was described by experts as a rare, highly valuable piece, with Sotheby’s seeking bids until June 26.
The article reports that the Macdonald viola, made in 1717 by Antonio Stradivarius, regarded as the most famous violin, will be auctioned in New York with a potential price exceeding US$45 million. Sotheby’s notes the instrument’s exceptional preservation and quality, and the sale will be conducted via sealed-bid envelopes in cooperation with Ingles & Hayday.
The article discusses a rare Stradivarius viola nicknamed the 'Macdonald', valued at $45 million (€32.6 million) and potentially the most expensive musical instrument ever sold. It notes the instrument was made by Antonio Stradivari in 1719, is one of only 10 Stradivarius violas remaining, and is up for sealed bids at Sotheby’s with bids due by 26 June; the previous record was the 1721 Lady Blunt violin sold for $15.9 million in 2011 to benefit tsunami and earthquake victims.
NBC News reports a rare Stradivari viola, regarded as one of the finest, is on display in Paris ahead of a sealed-bids sale in June and is expected to fetch more than $45 million, potentially setting a world record for the most expensive musical instrument sold.
The article from ResMusica reports that Sotheby’s and Ingles & Hayday will auction the Stradivarius alto Macdonald, made in 1719 by Antonio Stradivarius. The instrument is named after former owner Godfrey Bosville, Baron Macdonald III, who acquired it around 1820. Expert Tim Ingles notes it is in perfect condition with no restoration for 300 years, and that no Stradivarius alto has been sold since 1954. The instrument, once bought in 1964 for Peter Schidlof of the Amadeus Quartet, features spruce top and a single-piece maple back. The asking price is estimated above 45 million USD, with the current record being the Stradivarius violin Lady Blunt (1721) sold for 11.9 million USD in 2011 to the Nippon Music Foundation for earthquake relief in Japan.
El artículo informa que quedan solo diez violas creadas por Antonio Stradivarius y que solo dos podrían pertenecer al periodo dorado del maestro. Una viola, apodada Macdonald, será subastada por Sotheby’s el 26 de junio, con precio de salida de 45 millones de dólares (32,5 millones de euros). Fue presentada en París y tocada por el violinista David Aaron Carpenter; el lugar de la subasta y las condiciones fueron descritas por Tim Legend, experto en instrumentos.
The article reports that Ingles & Hayday will auction a violin, made in 2012 at the J&A Beare Workshop, to benefit Luthiers Sans Frontières, at Sotheby’s in London on May 13, 2014. The instrument is linked to the Lafont Guarneri of 1736; other lots include a 1680s Grancino cello and works by Gagliano, with estimates from £800 upwards.