Ten rare Italian instruments from the collection of Sau-Wing Lam went on show yesterday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The installation features one viola and nine violins, among them the 'Scotland University' and 'Bavarian' violins by Stradivari, and the 'Baltic' violin by Guarneri 'del Gesù'. The instruments will be on display until 30 June 2013.

According to the museum, this is the first time that instruments from the Sau-Wing Lam Collection have gone on public display in the United States. Born in Shanghai in 1923, Lam moved to New York City in 1948 and later became president of a successful import-export business. An amateur violinist and violist, Lam began collecting rare stringed instruments and bows in the 1960s. He died in 1988.

Four concerts featuring some of the instruments on display will be held during the installation, with performers including Daniel Hope, Karen Gomyo, Philippe Quint and the Salomé Chamber Orchestra.

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