May 2014

Sotheby Auction Of Rare Stradivarius Viola
Alternative investing to the tune of $45 million.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

  Italian artisan Antonio Stradivari created this highly desirable object of musical art in 1719. Since you are reading this on Enjoy the Music.com, we need not give much background to the creator or the incredible sound of his now-legendary instruments. As each one is rare and followed owner to owner over the years, this one is called the MacDonald and is extremely rare. Antonio Stradivari's production may have been higher, yet today only ten of his violas exist today. These are so highly prized that in the past 50 years only one has come up for auction. Bring a large bank account as bidding will begin at $45 million, with the highest bidder being announced on June 25, 2014.

The 'Macdonald' Viola by Antonio Stradivari is being offered via sealed bid by Sotheby's and Ingles & Hayday. For more information on how to bid, contact redden@sothebys.com or call + 1 (212) 894-1193. Violist David Aaron Carpenter plays this extraordinary instrument and offers his unique insight into the viola's remarkable history and legacy in the video below.