An Irvine concert violinist is playing sweet music on one of the rarest instruments in the world - a $5 million Stradivarius.



The Orange County Register said Iryna Krechkovsky will use the instrument for three years.



The so-called Baumgartner Stradivarius is 324 years old. Krechkovsky says its tone is sweet as dark chocolate.



The violin is one of 17 rare instruments loaned out every three years by the Canada Council for the Arts.



Top Canadian musicians compete for a chance to play them and Krechkovsky was among the chosen last fall. She moved to Irvine nearly a year ago with her husband, pianist Kevin Kwan Loucks. They're artists in residence at UC Irvine.

The UC Irvine Department of Music website describes Krechkovsky as a prize-winning violinist with an international career in solo, chamber and orchestral performances. The school said Krechkovsky, who was born in Ukraine, began playing violin at age six and is known for her tone, emotionality and precision.