Stradivarius $16 million violin will be played by Sergey Khachatryan for 10 years

A 300-year-old Stradivarius violin, worth an estimated $16 million, was recently played in Brussels. The instrument was played by world-renowned violinist Sergey Khachatryan with the Belgian National Orchestra. The Armenian violinist performed Brahms’ Violin Concerto on this instrument, Reuters reports.

The violin with a unique sound was made in 1724 by Italian master Antonio Stradivarius in his native Cremona. It was recently purchased by the Stretton Society, which provides exceptional instruments to famous artists.

Sergey Khachatryan will play the instrument for the next 10 years. "Brahms' music is such a reflection of beauty, in nature and also in human feelings," Khachatryan told Reuters. "If you have such an incredible violin, you can show that."

This instrument is one of the most valuable of the several hundred surviving Stradivarius violins, as it was created by the master between 1700 and 1720, which is considered his "Golden Period."