The back in one piece, ribs and neck are made from birdseye maple. As with all my instruments, I gave it a name. This one is called Cliché. It’s available for trial in Brussels, or elsewhere upon request.

Cliché is my version of this remarkable viola. I wanted to keep its spirit while adapting the proportions to make it more comfortable to play: a compact 41 cm, designed with today’s musicians in mind. My aim was to preserve a rich, balanced sound in a more accessible format.

I fell in love with the Romanov viola, an instrument built by Nicolò Amati in Cremona in 1677. What makes it so special is that it has kept its original dimensions — quite a rare thing for a viola from that time. Over the centuries, it passed through the hands of the Russian imperial family — hence the name — and was later played for many years by violist Max Aronoff of the Curtis Quartet.

Photos by Melín Vazquez

MORE INSTRUMENTS

CONTACTS

To make an appointment:
+32 465 27 63 33
vera.luthier@gmail.com

1060 Saint-Gilles, Brussels, Belgium (near Ma Campagne).
Exact address provided upon appointment.