A very rare 1719 Stradivarius viola is expected to sell for more than 45 million dollars at a private sale by Sotheby's and Ingles and Hayday. The auction house Sotheby's says that price would be a record for a musical instrument sold privately or at auction.

Principal Violinist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Ling, demonstrated the viola's sound in Hong Kong last week. The instrument is one of two violas by Antonio Stradivari still in private hands, with only 10 Stradivari violas known to have survived til the present day.

The sale item is called the "Macdonald" after the 3rd Baron Macdonald, Godfrey Bosville, who purchased it in the 1820s. The late Peter Schidlof, of the Amadeus Quartet, acquired it in 1964. His estate is now selling it, and potential buyers can submit sealed bids through June.

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