By Matt Rocheleau

Many in the music world believe there are no finer-made, sweeter-sounding violins than the ones Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari made before his death in 1737. Case in point: A celebration was held Thursday to mark the resurfacing of a Stradivarius violin that went missing 35 years ago after renowned musician Roman Totenberg tucked it away in his office at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge. The instrument's estimated worth is $5 million.

Enthusiasts marvel over the look and feel of Stradivarius violins as much as they do over their sound. And because so few exist — only several hundred instruments remain today — they have become highly valuable and coveted among the world's top musicians. So, why are a bunch of 300-year-old instruments considered the best the world has ever seen?

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Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/