"Sponsorship activities ? allowing outstandingly talented artists to use state-owned musical instruments made by masters ? are one of the most important tasks of the ministry," Mr Bozóki said.

Commissioned by the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage, the Franz Liszt Academy of Music decided to allow Kelemen to use the violin, which bears the mark of Giuseppe Guarneri, of the famous Guarneri family of violin makers, and the date 1742.

Kelemen is one of Hungary?s biggest young talents and has already earned an international reputation.

Until now, Kelemen has played on a 1683 Stradivarius that he received on a four-year loan after winning the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis in 2002.