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

Second prize in the antique viola category at the ANLAI competition in Kazanlak, Bulgaria, with a special mention for the acoustic quality of the Sofia quartet

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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.