"This is one of the four or five of the finest violins in existence," Tognetti told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) yesterday. "For most violinists, you're in awe of just getting close to an instrument like this, let alone having the incredible honor of it being my voice box."

The unnamed benefactor offered Tognetti a choice between the Carrodus and a 1733 Stradivarius. He chose the Carrodus Guarneri. "It hasn't got the elegance and finesse that are the hallmarks of Stradivarius," he told the ABC. "Rather, it's got this impetuousness about it — it's darker, it's richer, it's more like a human voice.

"There was a magical aura to this instrument and I'm still somewhat dizzy from the whole experience."

Tognetti had previously performed on a 1759 Guadagnini violin owned and lent by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The bank is allowing the ACO to continue using the instrument, which will now be played by principal second violinist Helena Rathbone.

The Carrodus returns to the concert stage next week in Beethoven's Violin Concerto, as Tognetti and the ACO begin their 2007 season with a national tour. The program, titled "Revolution," also features Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony (No. 3) and Mark-Anthony Turnage's Lullaby for Hans (as in Werner Henze). The itinerary includes Newcastle, NSW (Feb. 8), Canberra (Feb. 10), Melbourne (Feb. 11 and 12), Adelaide (Feb. 13), Sydney (Feb. 17, 18, 20 and 21) and Brisbane (Feb. 19).

The unknown donor, Tognetti told The Australian yesterday, is "the most generous person I will ever meet."