Leading soloist Leila Josefowicz has announced the sale of her 1750 Michele Angelo Bergonzi violin through Ingles and Hayday at their next auction at Sotheby’s on October 29. The instrument has been Josefowicz’s only concert violin since 2001 and has ‘played an important role’ in her ‘musical identity worldwide’, according to the artist. The violin is estimated to sell for £100,000-150,000.

Josefowicz has performed the world premieres of concertos by Steven Mackey, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Colin Matthews, and local premieres of violin concertos by Thomas Adès, John Adams and Oliver Knussen on the violin. Her recent DG recording of the Salonen concerto was also made on the instrument.

Michele Angelo Bergonzi worked in Cremona, the home of the Stradivari and Guarneri families, and was the leading Cremonese maker of his day. His father, Carlo, worked in the Stradivari workshop towards the end of Stradivari’s life.