Sergey Khachatryan Performs with Historic $16 Million Stradivari in Brussels Return

Sergey Khachatryan will perform at Brussels' Palais des Beaux-Arts on October 17, marking his return to the city two decades after winning the Queen Elisabeth Competition. This performance represents a significant moment for both the artist and one of the world's most valuable instruments - the 1724 'Kiesewetter' Stradivari, valued at approximately $16 million and historically associated with violin masters including Maxim Vengerov and Augustin Hadelich.

The instrument now finds a new artistic voice through Khachatryan, supported by the Stretton Society, a non-profit network of philanthropists founded in 2021. Khachatryan described the connection as immediate, noting the violin's extraordinary voice as radiant, powerful, and infinitely nuanced. His return to the Bozar stage with this instrument represents both a homecoming and new beginning for the artist.

The upcoming program with the Belgian National Orchestra will feature Brahms' Violin Concerto, a demanding Romantic work that tests the instrument's technical capabilities with challenging double stops, octave leaps, and intricate arpeggios. The concert also includes Schumann's Third Symphony, a five-movement masterpiece that pushes classical form boundaries while honoring Beethoven's innovations.

This performance reflects a growing movement in classical music toward private patronage and the belief that master instruments belong on stage rather than in secure storage. The Stretton Society, which received the European Cultural Award in 2024 for its arts contribution, works specifically to connect rare instruments with exceptional artists. Co-founder Stephan Jansen views the Khachatryan partnership as emblematic of their mission, emphasizing how the 'Kiesewetter' has served as artistic partner to generation-defining violinists and continues that legacy through Khachatryan's interpretation.

Beyond instrument loans, the Stretton Society funds mentorship programs that facilitate dialogue between established artists and emerging talent. This comprehensive approach to arts patronage ensures that both instruments and artistic knowledge continue to evolve and inspire new generations.

Khachatryan came to international prominence as the youngest-ever laureate of the Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition and has since performed with leading orchestras worldwide. His music is characterized by introspective intensity, making him particularly suited to the 'Kiesewetter' Stradivari, which carries centuries of performance history since its creation by Antonio Stradivari in Cremona around 1724. The instrument's name derives from 19th-century German virtuoso Christoph Gottfried Kiesewetter, and its varnish and voice have absorbed the touch of each generation's most expressive players.

The Brussels performance represents more than artistic mastery - it serves as a bridge between violin generations, connecting Cremona craftsmanship with contemporary audiences. Through Khachatryan and the Stretton Society's partnership, the 'Kiesewetter' fulfills its original purpose: not to be preserved in isolation but to live, breathe, and inspire through performance. This model of instrument stewardship demonstrates how private philanthropy can ensure cultural treasures remain active participants in the artistic landscape rather than museum artifacts.