New book: The Archetypal Violins of Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, now available. Pre-order today.

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FLFV Articles

Elophe Poirson, an extraordinary life story – by Chann Cornilleau

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FLFV News

Wiesbadener Kurier: Kronberg Academy Festival Popup

Popup showroom at Kronberg Academy Festival. Explore fine violins & hidden treasures. Full article in Wiesbadener Kurier.

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FLFV News

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Amati Cello Sold to Met Museum, NY

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’s September 2023 edition covered our sale of the Amaryllis Fleming Amati cello to the Met Museum in New York.

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FLFV News

Kronberg 2023: Pop-up Showroom

Join us in Kronberg for our exciting pop-up showroom event, from the 20th September until the 4th October 2023.

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FLFV Articles

Violins as Investments in the Press

A collection of articles discussing the benefits of fine instruments as investment pieces, and how the market has evolved over the years.

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FLFV Articles

Discovering the FLFV violin making process with the Epoch Times

Take a journey through Florian Leonhard’s creative process, workshop and life story with this article published by the Epoch Times.

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FLFV Articles

FLFV Features in the UK Chinese Journal

Florian Leonhard meets with the UK Chinese Journal to share his story, from his childhood in Mittenwald, Germany, through to his London-based dealership and workshop.

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FLFV Articles

Florian Joins Philharmonia Orchestra’s Board

The UK’s Philharmonia Orchestra’s chairman, Michael Hoffman, welcomes Florian Leonhard as the latest member of their Board of Trustees.

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FLFV Articles

Discussing violins as investments with The Mail on Sunday

Florian offers his insights on fine violins as investments and syndicates as a cost-effective entry step into investing in fine instruments.

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FLFV Articles

Lark Music: “Florian thinks with his hands”

Read Florian Leonhard’s interview with Lark Music Insurance. From his childhood in Dusseldorf, through to setting up his own business in London, Florian and his mother Christel discuss Florian’s road to success.

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FLFV Articles

Reuniting Sheku Kanneh-Mason with Amati Cello

The story of how FLFV loaned Sheku Kanneh-Mason a rare 400-year old Amati cello for the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, which Sheku went on to win on this instrument. Through the help of FLFV, a secret benefactor was found to purchase the cello for Sheku’s use indefinitely.

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FLFV Articles

Presenting Violins at the Joseph-Joachim Violin Competition

Florian Leonhard presents five antique violins, valued at €20 million, at the Joseph-Joachim Violin Competition in Hannover. A conversation about antique prices, ‘sleeper’ instruments and whether antique or modern instruments are better.

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FLFV Articles

The Benefits of Investing in Antique Instruments

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung covers how investing in a Stradivarius violin means you can promote new musical talent, whilst generating a healthy return on your investment.

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FLFV Articles

Better with Age: Investing in Antique Stringed Instruments

With nearly 40 clients in Hong Kong, Florian shares the virtues of investing in stringed instruments with PEAK Magazine. “A violin gets better and better… It’s a no-brainer to put some money in this asset class”.

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FLFV Articles

Collectibles: An integral part of wealth

How do collectibles and financial assets co-exist and complement each other in private wealth, what makes great collections, and how can specialists avoid the pitfalls and tackle the key challenges of collecting?

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Blog

Florian on the jury for prestigious Chieti Classica Cello competition in Italy July 2023

Florian looks forward with great excitement to being a jury member for this year’s Chieti Classica Cello Competition in Italy 20 – 22 July 2023.

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FLFV Articles

Leandro Bisiach, through his archive

No other family in modern Italian violinmaking is as intriguing as the Bisiachs, allowing us to narrate the history of Italy from the post-unification decades to almost the entire twentieth century through the events of their lives.

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Blog

Florian studies a rare Guarneri del Gesù violin

We caught up with Florian for a rare insight into his certification process.

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FLFV Articles

The Grand Ducal Court restorers of stringed instruments in late 18th century Florence

The violin making legacy in Tuscany is grounded in a deeply rooted tradition that has attracted the attention of violin making enthusiasts since the late nineteenth century.

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Blog

‘The Makers of Tuscany’ launches at Mondomusica

Joined by everyone who’s anyone in the violin business, the book launch of Florian Leonhard’s ‘The Makers of Tuscany’ exceeded expectations in Mondomusica, Cremona, last week.

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FLFV Articles

The 1928 Foderà violin: a Florian Leonhard description

When observing this violin by Ercole Foderà, the first thing that stands out is the rather thin, but beautifully coloured, orange/red varnish that has slightly penetrated the wood.

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FLFV Articles

New Light on Ercole Foderà (Palermo 1895 – Ragusa 1976)

Ercole Foderà is still a relatively unknown maker. Although his production of bowed instruments is of the highest quality, little is known about his life.

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Blog

Florian received an honorary commendation from the Hungarian Instrument Makers’ Association

Florian received an honorary commendation from the Hungarian Instrument Makers’ Association at the 2022 Nemessáyni Competition, at which he was president of the jury.

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Blog

Hayoung Choi, winner the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Cello Competition!

We were delighted to loan Hayoung a superb Bergonzi cello which she used throughout the competition, winning the First Prize, Queen Mathilde Prize, as well as the International Queen Elizabeth Grand Prize.

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Blog

Team Tuesdays series launched.

We started a series of interviews with our staff, released on Tuesdays on our social media channels, giving us new insights into our wonderful team.

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Blog

This year Florian celebrates 40 years in the violin business.

On our social media channels we revisited some of Florian’s memories (with photographs!) through his progression from violin making student to world-leading expert.

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Blog

Sheku Kanneh-Mason united with Goffriller cello purchase by a syndicate for his exclusive use!

Sheku Kanneh-Mason will be playing on a superb c.1700 Venetian cello by Matteo Goffriller.

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Blog

Sheku Kanneh-Mason releases new album

Recorded on the 1610 Amati cello we were delighted to permanently reunite with Sheku in 2016, we would like to congratulate Sheku on the release of his brand-new album. Elgar.

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Blog

Q&A with the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins Team

If you’re interested in violin making, expertise and restoration and would like a true insight into our world, read our blog for expert answers from our recent social media Q&A session.

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Blog

Nancy Zhou plays launch party to celebrate our new premises in New York

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins has moved into new premises in New York which will include a new workshop. Violinist Nancy Zhou gave an inspiring and mesmerising performance at a launch party to celebrate the move.

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FLFV News

Royal College of Music role for Florian Leonhard Fine Violins

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins has been appointed as the Royal College of Music’s official Expert and Luthier for Stringed Instruments.

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Blog

Steven Isserlis masterclass & concert with Kanneh-Mason trio and others

It was a pleasure to host a superb masterclass with world-class cellist, Steven Isserlis, earlier this week. During the masterclass, Steven worked with the Kanneh-Mason Trio and the Bukolika piano trio.

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FLFV News

Florian Leonhard teams up with International Classical Artists

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins is proud to be part of International Classical Artists. Below is an article by Andrew Green about the new relationship.

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Florain Leonhard Fine Violins sales manager Thomas Wei presents the 1690 'Stephens' Stradivarius violin to Rami
Blog

Stradivarius loaned to Syrian refugee Rami for Royal Albert Hall debut

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins is delighted to loan the 1690 ‘Stephens’ Stradivarius to Syrian violinist Rami for his Royal Albert Hall debut.

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Blog

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins & the Cooper Competition Winner

Congratulations to our friend Johan Dalene on winning the 2017 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition.

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Blog

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins to feature at U.S competitions and festivals

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins has a calendar full of exciting events coming up in the U.S during July.

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Blog

Violinist’s joy at being reunited with 1695 Stradivarius violin

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins is delighted to have helped reunite Dutch violinist Thijs Kramer with one of the first Stradivarius violins he ever played.

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Blog

Florian Leonhard helps Leonidas Kavakos secure a new Stradivarius

Florian Leonhard Fine Violins are delighted to have helped secure the 1734 ‘Willemotte’ Antonio Stradivari violin for our friend and world-renowned soloist Leonidas Kavakos.

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FLFV News

Florian Leonhard helps Leonidas Kavakos secure the 1734 ‘Willemotte’ Stradivarius

We are delighted to have helped secure the 1734 ‘Willemotte’ Antonio Stradivari violin for our friend and world-renowned soloist Leonidas Kavakos.

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FLFV News

Florian helps reunite Sheku Kanneh-Mason with rare Amati cello

We were delighted to help permanently reunite Sheku Kanneh-Mason with the 1610 Amati cello he played to win the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year, with the help of a generous anonymous sponsor based in London.

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Blog

VSA Double gold for Gabor Draskoczy

Gabor Draskoczy, who has worked for seven years as our head of new making under Florian’s direction here at Florian Leonard Fine Violins, has won double gold at the Violin Society of America’s 22nd International Competition.

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FLFV News

Florian Fine Violins features on BBC Four Sheku Kanneh-Mason documentary

Our very own sales manager Thomas Wei featured on a BBC Four documentary following Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

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FLFV News

Florian appears on Chinese TV Knews24

Florian was featured on Chinese TV during a recent trip to Shanghai. He talked to reporter Chen Xuan about violin making and may have found a new apprentice!

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FLFV News

The Guardian: “Young Musician winner Sheku Kanneh-Mason is just what classical music needs”

For the full article click here…

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FLFV News

The Menuhin Competition 2016: “The Last Rose of Summer” Opening Played by Maxim Vengerov

For the full article click here…

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FLFV News

Lark Music ‘Notes from the Heart’: “Florian Thinks With His Hands”

For the full article click here…

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Florian on Bloomberg TV

For the full article click here…

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FLFV News

The Peak Magazine (Hong Kong) – “Sound Investments”

For the full article click here…

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Florian on TGR Italian News

For the full article click here…

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FLFV News

Tarisio: “Antonio Gragnani and the Tuscan School”

Recent archival research has uncovered much new information about the violin makers of Tuscany, including the prolific and characterful Antonio Gragnani

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FLFV News

Newsweek: “Stradivariuses, the Latest Financial Fiddle”

“According to research by London instrument dealer Florian Leonhard, for the past decade the average Stradivarius has seen its annual price increase by 10.9 percent, and some instruments have recorded up to 20 percent.”

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FLFV News

Mondomusica New York 2014 – The Exhibitors: Florian Leonhard

For the full article click here…

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FLFV News

The Telegraph: “The World of the Violin Maker Florian Leonhard”

“The Telegraph”‘s Ellie Pithers talks with Florian Leonhard about music, his childhood, and matchmaking. Read the full article here…

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FLFV News

Strings Magazine: Philharmonia Orchestra – Board of Trustees

Florian Leonhard is now a member of the Board of Trustees of UK’s Philharmonia Orchestra (“Strings” magazine, 1/2014) “[Leonhard’s] in-depth expertise and experience in the world of classical music in general and fine stringed instruments in particular will prove an invaluable contribution to our board,” Read the full article here…

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FLFV News

Mail on Sunday: “Violin Prices are Rising”

Florian Leonhard in the Mail on Sunday, 2nd March 2014. Read the full article here…

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FLFV News

ARCHI magazine n.44 11-12/2013: “Violino Antonio Gragnani, Livorgno 1775”

Florian Leonhard published his article “Violino Antonio Gragnani, Livorgno 1775” in italian ARCHI magazine, n.44 Novembre – Dicembre 2013 in the rubric “Grandi Strumenti”.

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