This Is What a $45 Million Viola Sounds Like | The New York Times 

Hmm, let's record a $45 million instrument with deep, rich sound on audio equipment that doesn't have the dynamic range to record the sound, then compress the audio further thru the internet, and then have viewers listened to the soda straw thin mimic of the actual sound on speakers and headphones that cannot even translate the already internet compressed audio files and say, "This is what a $45 million sounds like." Yeah, that should do the instrument justice....

He's holding something worth more than all the houses on your street combined.

That one rich kid in middle school orchestra

"45 Mil. is nothing if you don't put in those 40 hours of practice a day" - Ling Ling

the viola is 45 million dollars but the guys eyebrows are priceless 😂

Ah if you guys were wondering this Viola was made by a famous viola maker in 1719. Only 10 were made and this one is the only surviving one that is in perfect condition and able to be played regularly. Interesting stuff.

Brett and Eddy need to watch this

Digital recording can never capture even 10% of the quality of the sound of a Stradivarius. Hearing it live is an incredible experience.

If you look closely you'll see it's actually his eyebrows making the sound.

Doesn't sound anything like a $45 million Viola. It's much closer to a $39.6 million one. I can hear the difference even on a mono speaker in my smartphone.

The Viola is underrated. Most music written for strings is for the violin or cello. Viola is like an afterthought.

The viola itself sounds as if it has a whole symphony and percussion on its own.

i bet %99 of the world can't tell the difference between that and a 4.000$ viola , myself included as a musician.

for $45M, it better come with that guy as well

Look how big he is! He makes that cello look so small!!!

I love the viola so much. I don’t understand why people dislike it so much more than the violin or cello. This is my 6th year playing it and I know I will never give it up. It’s beautiful and deserves just as much praise as all the other instruments ❤️

let's all agree that this dude can make a potato sound good

Ah yes the sound of my dream mansion, six Ferraris, college tuition, and a giraffe

In my opinion, no matter how beautiful and expensive an instrument may be, its all about the player and yes, the price can definitely help the quality and tone of the sound, but a professional always ties everything together. I think we all are glad to see this man is getting the praise he deserves in the comments.

This instrument is exactly the same age as the piece being played. Bach could have had this piece played on this particular viola.

$45 million viola recorded on a $100 microphone

He better be included for 45 million. I want him playing 24/7.

Rick Harrison: I mean the bow is used and the instrument has been played a lot. The best i can do is 40$ and im taking a big risk here seriously.

The way he makes bow changes unnoticeable is so beautiful

Give it to me and it will sound like a 1$ viola you bought at the thrift store

>This is is what a $45 million viola sounds like after undergoing RU-vid's audio compression off of a crappy on-board laptop sound output through cheap head phones.

*imagine him dropping it*

Omg! How beautifully played that was, and what a magnificent sound. I will be getting a Viola very soon to replace my Violin. These videos are making Violas much more popular than they ever were I believe. The huskier voice of Viola is quite an attraction. I love it.

I'd be too afraid to even breathe anywhere near it.

Half the reason it sounds great is the very skilled performer using it.

a violin could never 💁🏻‍♀️ , the viola is so beautiful

so passionate, Must be incredible to lose yourself in the music like that, he is somewhere else during this performance.

Legends said he did not wash his hands to this day after touching that viola..

Still waiting for a $100 Million cowbell video...

It sounds so much better and sweeter than regular Viola. I loved his performance so much.

This sounds the way honey tastes. Sweet and smooth.

His eyebrows are worth 45million

Scrolling down comments while watching the video. My life feels complete with this mixture of humor and music.

Absolutely amazing I enjoyed every second. Thanks for the upload.

I thought mine was expensive at $3000 now i just feel more broke lmao

Today, on Pawn Stars, You bought that Viola for $45 million? Let me call my guy. The best I can do is $5.

Has chance to play $45 million Viola. Plays cello piece

It's not the Stradi making the music beautiful, it's the massive, beautiful, specially designed concert hall with great big echoing walls that amplify the sound. I wanna hear a Stradivarius viola played in a carpeted room!

me over here wishing i could feed my violin vitamin pills to make it grow bigger into a viola

Corrected the headline: This is what a 45 million dollar viola sounds like recorded with 10$ mic, edited background noise away, flattend into 0,0001mb youtube form and played by crappy mono speakers :-D :-D

He got a deal! That sounds exactly like. $46 million viola!

Superbly played! That was such a pleasure. Thank you.

You can just feel it with him, the passion to play something like that and just the sound floods you. We miss you Stratovani you are a true hero in the music world and a Craftsman we will never be able to replicate until we get a time machine.

forget the 45 million dollar viola, lets talk about the 45 million dollar eyebrows

Can I put something straight? This is directed at all you people saying, "I wouldn't pay 45 million for a viola," or, "It doesn't sound any different from any other viola," or, "It's not the Viola, it's the violist." 1. You wouldn't pay 45 million for it because (A), you probably don't even know how to play it, or (B), you don't know how valuable it is and can't hear the richness and colors of the tone that resonates from it. And not only its playability and sound, it also has a history. Made in the seventeen hundreds by one of the greatest luthiers in history, Antonio Stradivari. Depending on which Viola it is, it was probably passed down from some guy to another guy and sent as a gift to some other guy and yadda, yadda, yadda. Anyhow, it being 300 years old ALONE makes it priceless. You see, the older a string instrument is, the better it sounds, and the more the wood resonates. Search it up.

Where's TwoSetViolin??? String review!

Wow! Beautiful sound and playing. This is what makes life worth living.

I bet I could still make it sound like crap

Rumor has it......his eyes havent opened

Worth every penny! That's one sweet viola...wow. Close as any of us will get to one, thanks for posting.

This viola is so amazing, it comes with its own reverberance. 🤣

the viola is 45 millions, but the microphone they used to record this is like... $10?

I love viola sound... It's to me earthy and reassuring, lukewarm sunshine, comfortable.

It goes right into my soul. so beautiful✨

You could see the notes coming out of his eyebrows

This is what a 45 million dollar viola sounds like, captured over a mic of ambiguous quality and streamed over RU-vid towards your speaker set of ambiguous quality.

Wow, really love the music, the musician, and the precious Viola! I always love Viola; the richer sound is wonderful!

If anyone deserves this viola it's this guy. WOW!

Accidentally stepped on my violin once. I would not trust $45 million in my hands.

I dont know man, only sounds like 44 million to me... clickbait tbh

TwoSetViolin needs to see this lmao

One of the most exquisite sounds. I love his pieces.

0:03 “What...I have to play now?“

There was a study that found that even top violinists couldn't tell the difference between a Stradivarius and a modern (and less expensive) violin. The sound alone doesn't make the instrument worth millions. The price comes from the "brand name" and its value as a work of art with a history of being played by famous musicians. More expensive doesn't always mean a better sound.

so beautiful tone and playing, the room too has resonance and it makes the playing even more beautiful!

At 0:40 if I am hearing, and seeing correctly, that was the most graceful sequence of up-bows I have ever beheld- not to mention his absolutely gorgeous tone and top-notch bow control. Bravo!!!!!

does the guy come with it

1:42 , he literally starts playing three different things all at once, the "bass", middle notes, and the higher ones. the shine of his viola in the light is brighter than three of my futures at least.

Wow, the viola is rich and beautiful. Thank you for posting. 🎶 🙏

I play violin and have just renovated a viola that was on its way out and I've got to say I love playing it. I'm an alto singer and the range of the viola just feels right. And it's also helping me reach the extended notes on my violin when I get back to playing it ❤

This Violin is worth more than my countries economy

Entranced by his beautiful facial expressions.

I remember seeing this video back when I first started taking viola lessons. Now I’m a senior in college about to graduate playing in orchestras.

I cannot get over the sheer transportation he experiences while playing, so profound that he's spellbound for nearly 10s after it finishes BEFORE HE EVEN BREATHES AGAIN. Extraordinary! We're all richer for having experienced a tiny fraction of it with him.

Didn't know Tom Riddle played the viola

I wouldn't pay more than 38 million for a viola like that.

Me: Oh no I watched 1 viola video amiss watching like 20 violin vids a day RU-vid: VIOLA VIOLA VIOLA

Beautifully played. Absolutely gorgeous instrument ~

Superman seems to be very talented

inside his mind while he's playing "don't drop this, don't drop this, don't drop this, PLS DON'T DROP THIS"

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! Great video, amazing sound.

I love my viola. Her name is Rhapsody. Such a melancholy instrument. And violas have the longest bow. I play metal in my Viola, Metallica, iron maiden,godsmack, ect. I appreciate classical.

I'm more fascinated by the passion of the player than by the violin itself :-D

Too bad it was recorded with a $200 mic :p

the goosebumps I experienced during this video now this is my only life goal to buy a viola like this because mine can't even compare to the beauty and sound this one produces

I've never heard such good viola playing before ❤️✨ justice for viola gang!

That sounds beautiful but 45 million dollar is way too much.

This guys eyebrows are going through an emotional rollercoaster.

I started playing viola in August 2014 because I watched this video.

Sounds amazing.

So money can buy happiness

what does a 45 million violin sound like?!? incorrect what does my phone\computer sound like

"if you can play it slowly, you can play it quickly" - sacrilegious boiii

Awesome ... both the musician's performance and the instrument!

But I only got a small loan of a Million...