background: 世界上最名贵的小提琴是意大利提琴制造家， 史特拉第瓦里(stradivari)所制的提琴。这些古董琴以完美的音质著称，其中一把珍藏提琴去年创下了近1千万英镑的成交纪录。但在美国近期的一次试验中，结果显示名贵古董提琴未必比现代提琴好。这一结论引起了位于北意大利史特拉第瓦里故乡的不满。
for generations lovers of classical music have believed that when it comes to the violin, there is nothing finer than the sound of a stradivarius. but research in america has challenged the mystique surrounding the famous old instruments.wｗw.examＷ.com
tests involving more than 20 professional violinists were conducted in a hotel in indiana. the violinists were made to wear goggles that blinded them.
they couldn't tell whether they were playing an antique stradivarius, or a brand new instrument. and most of the musicians decided that they liked the new ones best.
but they've been unimpressed by this in a place called cremona, the home town of the stradivarius violin. at the instrument museum there, a spokesman said the american survey was no more than "media hype".
he said that for hundreds of years the world of music had recognised the quality of the stradivarius.