Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Soloist and Conductor
“I have been playing this remarkable violin made in 2018. It is not only a great-looking violin, made as a copy of my fantastic Stradivari, the 1717 ‘Reiffenberg’, but it sounds extremely similar to my Strad, which is so rare for modern violins.
I have played it on many occasions in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music in many different countries and continents, and most colleagues of mine, who know my Strad, could not tell the difference between them. Wonderful achievement by Florian & his team – Bravo!!
I am looking forward to many more years and concerts to play with this violin in my hands.”
Eugene Tzikindelean
Leader, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
“In December of 2022 my concert instrument had to undergo some repairs and as usual the faithful team at FL offered to help me find something from their collection that could give life and voice to the Nielsen Violin Concerto I was going to perform later that month.
After trying a few extraordinary instruments I was handed one of the “True Copies” and it was absolutely love at first sight . Having tried the violin’s “mother” a few minutes earlier I was in shock with the depth, color and ease of playing for a violin that was born maybe a few weeks before. I couldn’t believe a young instrument had such a personal story to tell, and I immediately asked to borrow it for my performance. We spent together a wonderful 2-week honeymoon and after the first rehearsal in Birmingham my colleagues came immediately to ask on what golden period Strad I was playing!
I hope you can enjoy the wonderful golden tone, the sparkle, power and colours of the violin in my rendition of the Nielsen Violin Concerto and I highly recommend you visit the beautiful FLFV shop and place an order immediately! You will not be disappointed, these instruments feel and sound like something we could never ever afford.”
Nina Poskin
Viola co-soloist at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie / Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
“I have been playing on a copy of a Da Salo viola since 2015 and was the first person to be playing the instrument. She really opened up in the last couple of years and sounds now more like a little cello, which I love. I have now been successful in winning two orchestral auditions and get compliments often about the beautiful clear sound which carries easily in a large concert hall.”
Professor Leonid Kerbel
Brussels Conservatory (Belgium) and Royal College of music (London)
“The uncompromising quality in every aspect of violin making made me passionate about the work of the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins workshop.
It is this uncompromising knowledge, sensitivity and love for beautiful tone that made me decide to purchase my instrument, a Stradivari copy, from this outstanding workshop. After each performance I make, solo, recital or chamber music, the audiences ask me: ‘Are you playing on an Italian instrument?’ They are completely astonished when they learn that it is a modern instrument with an Old Italian sound!”
Line Faber
LGT Young Soloist. Royal College of Music 2015 to 2019.
“I feel extremely lucky to be playing on this wonderful instrument for several years already.
The violin is a Florian Leonhard true copy of the Marlboro Stradivari (Cremona 1718). What I find so special about it is the extremely rich tone quality and warm sound it has. I often get asked on which instrument I’m playing and people are always very surprised to hear that it is a modern violin. You rarely find modern instruments that sound so open and give you that many possibilities to explore different colours and characters. In that aspect it has many similarities with old Italian instruments and that’s the beauty of it!”
Professor Tomotada Soh
Royal Academy of Music (London)
“The violin you kindly sold me, made by you and your expert craftsmen in your workshop just gets better every day. The sound is golden and it carries to the back of huge concert halls. It is my pride and joy and admired by professionals and students around the world, it is a remarkable instrument and looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for making such fine instruments and giving such pleasure to all musicians.”
Katerina Nazarova
Soloist
“I was originally loaned my instrument, a copy of the 1692 ex-Falmouth long pattern Strad, back in 2012 for a competition but I fell in love with it immediately and had to have it. Mind you, it took me a whole year to persuade Florian to sell it to me as it is such an exceptional copy he didn’t want to let go of it! It has a most beautiful warm sound to it but is also incredibly deep and rich too. And the instrument looks like the real deal, it’s so beautiful. Having held it and played it alongside real Strads of that era there is hardly any difference. People are always asking me what my instrument is, and they never believe me when I tell them!”
Fedor Rudin
Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, Soloist and Competition Winner
“I play a “Kreutzer” Stradivari copy made by Florian Leonhard. When I got the violin in 2010, it was one of the first copies of antique violins to come out from the workshop. I am so lucky to have it! It has a very warm and powerful sound, which you rarely find in modern violins. Very often after playing a concert on it, when people ask about my instrument, nobody believes this is a modern instrument. Florian’s more recent violins look even more beautiful and antique, but I am very happy with mine and I will continue to enjoy playing on it!”
Vadim Tsibulevsky
1st Concertmaster of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (Amsterdam), Soloist and Chamber Musician
“I am absolutely in love with this violin. It is so pleasant and easy to play on! It immediately responds to the smallest nuances in sound or colour… the violin has very projective big warm sound with a lot of depth. It feels, looks and, most importantly, sounds like an old instrument. Thank you, dear Florian!”
Tassilo Probst
Soloist
“Florian Leonhard’s True Copies are truly phenomenal instruments. I had the opportunity to compare various models with real Stradivaris and Del Gesus in London and must say that the copies are in no way inferior to the originals.
I especially loved the 1724 “Abergavenny” Stradivari model that I am currently playing. This violin is super easy to play, has an incredibly clear sound, a great color palette and, thanks to the somewhat more stable back, an almost even more voluminous and robust sound than the original!
So a tonal Stradivari for the price of a new build, the perfect violin for a young soloist. I am infinitely grateful to Florian Leonhard and his team for this opportunity!”
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Soloist and Conductor
“I have been playing this remarkable violin made in 2018. It is not only a great-looking violin, made as a copy of my fantastic Stradivari, the 1717 ‘Reiffenberg’, but it sounds extremely similar to my Strad, which is so rare for modern violins.
I have played it on many occasions in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music in many different countries and continents, and most colleagues of mine, who know my Strad, could not tell the difference between them. Wonderful achievement by Florian & his team – Bravo!!
I am looking forward to many more years and concerts to play with this violin in my hands.”
Eugene Tzikindelean
Leader, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
“In December of 2022 my concert instrument had to undergo some repairs and as usual the faithful team at FL offered to help me find something from their collection that could give life and voice to the Nielsen Violin Concerto I was going to perform later that month.
After trying a few extraordinary instruments I was handed one of the “True Copies” and it was absolutely love at first sight . Having tried the violin’s “mother” a few minutes earlier I was in shock with the depth, color and ease of playing for a violin that was born maybe a few weeks before. I couldn’t believe a young instrument had such a personal story to tell, and I immediately asked to borrow it for my performance. We spent together a wonderful 2-week honeymoon and after the first rehearsal in Birmingham my colleagues came immediately to ask on what golden period Strad I was playing!
I hope you can enjoy the wonderful golden tone, the sparkle, power and colours of the violin in my rendition of the Nielsen Violin Concerto and I highly recommend you visit the beautiful FLFV shop and place an order immediately! You will not be disappointed, these instruments feel and sound like something we could never ever afford.”
Nina Poskin
Viola co-soloist at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie / Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
“I have been playing on a copy of a Da Salo viola since 2015 and was the first person to be playing the instrument. She really opened up in the last couple of years and sounds now more like a little cello, which I love. I have now been successful in winning two orchestral auditions and get compliments often about the beautiful clear sound which carries easily in a large concert hall.”
Professor Leonid Kerbel
Brussels Conservatory (Belgium) and Royal College of music (London)
“The uncompromising quality in every aspect of violin making made me passionate about the work of the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins workshop.
It is this uncompromising knowledge, sensitivity and love for beautiful tone that made me decide to purchase my instrument, a Stradivari copy, from this outstanding workshop. After each performance I make, solo, recital or chamber music, the audiences ask me: ‘Are you playing on an Italian instrument?’ They are completely astonished when they learn that it is a modern instrument with an Old Italian sound!”
Line Faber
LGT Young Soloist. Royal College of Music 2015 to 2019.
“I feel extremely lucky to be playing on this wonderful instrument for several years already.
The violin is a Florian Leonhard true copy of the Marlboro Stradivari (Cremona 1718). What I find so special about it is the extremely rich tone quality and warm sound it has. I often get asked on which instrument I’m playing and people are always very surprised to hear that it is a modern violin. You rarely find modern instruments that sound so open and give you that many possibilities to explore different colours and characters. In that aspect it has many similarities with old Italian instruments and that’s the beauty of it!”
Professor Tomotada Soh
Royal Academy of Music (London)
“The violin you kindly sold me, made by you and your expert craftsmen in your workshop just gets better every day. The sound is golden and it carries to the back of huge concert halls. It is my pride and joy and admired by professionals and students around the world, it is a remarkable instrument and looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for making such fine instruments and giving such pleasure to all musicians.”
Katerina Nazarova
Soloist
“I was originally loaned my instrument, a copy of the 1692 ex-Falmouth long pattern Strad, back in 2012 for a competition but I fell in love with it immediately and had to have it. Mind you, it took me a whole year to persuade Florian to sell it to me as it is such an exceptional copy he didn’t want to let go of it! It has a most beautiful warm sound to it but is also incredibly deep and rich too. And the instrument looks like the real deal, it’s so beautiful. Having held it and played it alongside real Strads of that era there is hardly any difference. People are always asking me what my instrument is, and they never believe me when I tell them!”
Fedor Rudin
Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, Soloist and Competition Winner
“I play a “Kreutzer” Stradivari copy made by Florian Leonhard. When I got the violin in 2010, it was one of the first copies of antique violins to come out from the workshop. I am so lucky to have it! It has a very warm and powerful sound, which you rarely find in modern violins. Very often after playing a concert on it, when people ask about my instrument, nobody believes this is a modern instrument. Florian’s more recent violins look even more beautiful and antique, but I am very happy with mine and I will continue to enjoy playing on it!”
Vadim Tsibulevsky
1st Concertmaster of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (Amsterdam), Soloist and Chamber Musician
“I am absolutely in love with this violin. It is so pleasant and easy to play on! It immediately responds to the smallest nuances in sound or colour… the violin has very projective big warm sound with a lot of depth. It feels, looks and, most importantly, sounds like an old instrument. Thank you, dear Florian!”
Tassilo Probst
Soloist
“Florian Leonhard’s True Copies are truly phenomenal instruments. I had the opportunity to compare various models with real Stradivaris and Del Gesus in London and must say that the copies are in no way inferior to the originals.
I especially loved the 1724 “Abergavenny” Stradivari model that I am currently playing. This violin is super easy to play, has an incredibly clear sound, a great color palette and, thanks to the somewhat more stable back, an almost even more voluminous and robust sound than the original!
So a tonal Stradivari for the price of a new build, the perfect violin for a young soloist. I am infinitely grateful to Florian Leonhard and his team for this opportunity!”
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Soloist and Conductor
“I have been playing this remarkable violin made in 2018. It is not only a great-looking violin, made as a copy of my fantastic Stradivari, the 1717 ‘Reiffenberg’, but it sounds extremely similar to my Strad, which is so rare for modern violins.
I have played it on many occasions in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music in many different countries and continents, and most colleagues of mine, who know my Strad, could not tell the difference between them. Wonderful achievement by Florian & his team – Bravo!!
I am looking forward to many more years and concerts to play with this violin in my hands.”
Eugene Tzikindelean
Leader, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
“In December of 2022 my concert instrument had to undergo some repairs and as usual the faithful team at FL offered to help me find something from their collection that could give life and voice to the Nielsen Violin Concerto I was going to perform later that month.
After trying a few extraordinary instruments I was handed one of the “True Copies” and it was absolutely love at first sight . Having tried the violin’s “mother” a few minutes earlier I was in shock with the depth, color and ease of playing for a violin that was born maybe a few weeks before. I couldn’t believe a young instrument had such a personal story to tell, and I immediately asked to borrow it for my performance. We spent together a wonderful 2-week honeymoon and after the first rehearsal in Birmingham my colleagues came immediately to ask on what golden period Strad I was playing!
I hope you can enjoy the wonderful golden tone, the sparkle, power and colours of the violin in my rendition of the Nielsen Violin Concerto and I highly recommend you visit the beautiful FLFV shop and place an order immediately! You will not be disappointed, these instruments feel and sound like something we could never ever afford.”
Nina Poskin
Viola co-soloist at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie / Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
“I have been playing on a copy of a Da Salo viola since 2015 and was the first person to be playing the instrument. She really opened up in the last couple of years and sounds now more like a little cello, which I love. I have now been successful in winning two orchestral auditions and get compliments often about the beautiful clear sound which carries easily in a large concert hall.”
Professor Leonid Kerbel
Brussels Conservatory (Belgium) and Royal College of music (London)
“The uncompromising quality in every aspect of violin making made me passionate about the work of the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins workshop.
It is this uncompromising knowledge, sensitivity and love for beautiful tone that made me decide to purchase my instrument, a Stradivari copy, from this outstanding workshop. After each performance I make, solo, recital or chamber music, the audiences ask me: ‘Are you playing on an Italian instrument?’ They are completely astonished when they learn that it is a modern instrument with an Old Italian sound!”
Line Faber
LGT Young Soloist. Royal College of Music 2015 to 2019.
“I feel extremely lucky to be playing on this wonderful instrument for several years already.
The violin is a Florian Leonhard true copy of the Marlboro Stradivari (Cremona 1718). What I find so special about it is the extremely rich tone quality and warm sound it has. I often get asked on which instrument I’m playing and people are always very surprised to hear that it is a modern violin. You rarely find modern instruments that sound so open and give you that many possibilities to explore different colours and characters. In that aspect it has many similarities with old Italian instruments and that’s the beauty of it!”
Professor Tomotada Soh
Royal Academy of Music (London)
“The violin you kindly sold me, made by you and your expert craftsmen in your workshop just gets better every day. The sound is golden and it carries to the back of huge concert halls. It is my pride and joy and admired by professionals and students around the world, it is a remarkable instrument and looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for making such fine instruments and giving such pleasure to all musicians.”
Katerina Nazarova
Soloist
“I was originally loaned my instrument, a copy of the 1692 ex-Falmouth long pattern Strad, back in 2012 for a competition but I fell in love with it immediately and had to have it. Mind you, it took me a whole year to persuade Florian to sell it to me as it is such an exceptional copy he didn’t want to let go of it! It has a most beautiful warm sound to it but is also incredibly deep and rich too. And the instrument looks like the real deal, it’s so beautiful. Having held it and played it alongside real Strads of that era there is hardly any difference. People are always asking me what my instrument is, and they never believe me when I tell them!”
Fedor Rudin
Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, Soloist and Competition Winner
“I play a “Kreutzer” Stradivari copy made by Florian Leonhard. When I got the violin in 2010, it was one of the first copies of antique violins to come out from the workshop. I am so lucky to have it! It has a very warm and powerful sound, which you rarely find in modern violins. Very often after playing a concert on it, when people ask about my instrument, nobody believes this is a modern instrument. Florian’s more recent violins look even more beautiful and antique, but I am very happy with mine and I will continue to enjoy playing on it!”
Vadim Tsibulevsky
1st Concertmaster of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (Amsterdam), Soloist and Chamber Musician
“I am absolutely in love with this violin. It is so pleasant and easy to play on! It immediately responds to the smallest nuances in sound or colour… the violin has very projective big warm sound with a lot of depth. It feels, looks and, most importantly, sounds like an old instrument. Thank you, dear Florian!”
Tassilo Probst
Soloist
“Florian Leonhard’s True Copies are truly phenomenal instruments. I had the opportunity to compare various models with real Stradivaris and Del Gesus in London and must say that the copies are in no way inferior to the originals.
I especially loved the 1724 “Abergavenny” Stradivari model that I am currently playing. This violin is super easy to play, has an incredibly clear sound, a great color palette and, thanks to the somewhat more stable back, an almost even more voluminous and robust sound than the original!
So a tonal Stradivari for the price of a new build, the perfect violin for a young soloist. I am infinitely grateful to Florian Leonhard and his team for this opportunity!”
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Soloist and Conductor
“I have been playing this remarkable violin made in 2018. It is not only a great-looking violin, made as a copy of my fantastic Stradivari, the 1717 ‘Reiffenberg’, but it sounds extremely similar to my Strad, which is so rare for modern violins.
I have played it on many occasions in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music in many different countries and continents, and most colleagues of mine, who know my Strad, could not tell the difference between them. Wonderful achievement by Florian & his team – Bravo!!
I am looking forward to many more years and concerts to play with this violin in my hands.”
Eugene Tzikindelean
Leader, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
“In December of 2022 my concert instrument had to undergo some repairs and as usual the faithful team at FL offered to help me find something from their collection that could give life and voice to the Nielsen Violin Concerto I was going to perform later that month.
After trying a few extraordinary instruments I was handed one of the “True Copies” and it was absolutely love at first sight . Having tried the violin’s “mother” a few minutes earlier I was in shock with the depth, color and ease of playing for a violin that was born maybe a few weeks before. I couldn’t believe a young instrument had such a personal story to tell, and I immediately asked to borrow it for my performance. We spent together a wonderful 2-week honeymoon and after the first rehearsal in Birmingham my colleagues came immediately to ask on what golden period Strad I was playing!
I hope you can enjoy the wonderful golden tone, the sparkle, power and colours of the violin in my rendition of the Nielsen Violin Concerto and I highly recommend you visit the beautiful FLFV shop and place an order immediately! You will not be disappointed, these instruments feel and sound like something we could never ever afford.”
Nina Poskin
Viola co-soloist at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie / Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
“I have been playing on a copy of a Da Salo viola since 2015 and was the first person to be playing the instrument. She really opened up in the last couple of years and sounds now more like a little cello, which I love. I have now been successful in winning two orchestral auditions and get compliments often about the beautiful clear sound which carries easily in a large concert hall.”
Professor Leonid Kerbel
Brussels Conservatory (Belgium) and Royal College of music (London)
“The uncompromising quality in every aspect of violin making made me passionate about the work of the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins workshop.
It is this uncompromising knowledge, sensitivity and love for beautiful tone that made me decide to purchase my instrument, a Stradivari copy, from this outstanding workshop. After each performance I make, solo, recital or chamber music, the audiences ask me: ‘Are you playing on an Italian instrument?’ They are completely astonished when they learn that it is a modern instrument with an Old Italian sound!”
Line Faber
LGT Young Soloist. Royal College of Music 2015 to 2019.
“I feel extremely lucky to be playing on this wonderful instrument for several years already.
The violin is a Florian Leonhard true copy of the Marlboro Stradivari (Cremona 1718). What I find so special about it is the extremely rich tone quality and warm sound it has. I often get asked on which instrument I’m playing and people are always very surprised to hear that it is a modern violin. You rarely find modern instruments that sound so open and give you that many possibilities to explore different colours and characters. In that aspect it has many similarities with old Italian instruments and that’s the beauty of it!”
Professor Tomotada Soh
Royal Academy of Music (London)
“The violin you kindly sold me, made by you and your expert craftsmen in your workshop just gets better every day. The sound is golden and it carries to the back of huge concert halls. It is my pride and joy and admired by professionals and students around the world, it is a remarkable instrument and looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for making such fine instruments and giving such pleasure to all musicians.”
Katerina Nazarova
Soloist
“I was originally loaned my instrument, a copy of the 1692 ex-Falmouth long pattern Strad, back in 2012 for a competition but I fell in love with it immediately and had to have it. Mind you, it took me a whole year to persuade Florian to sell it to me as it is such an exceptional copy he didn’t want to let go of it! It has a most beautiful warm sound to it but is also incredibly deep and rich too. And the instrument looks like the real deal, it’s so beautiful. Having held it and played it alongside real Strads of that era there is hardly any difference. People are always asking me what my instrument is, and they never believe me when I tell them!”
Fedor Rudin
Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, Soloist and Competition Winner
“I play a “Kreutzer” Stradivari copy made by Florian Leonhard. When I got the violin in 2010, it was one of the first copies of antique violins to come out from the workshop. I am so lucky to have it! It has a very warm and powerful sound, which you rarely find in modern violins. Very often after playing a concert on it, when people ask about my instrument, nobody believes this is a modern instrument. Florian’s more recent violins look even more beautiful and antique, but I am very happy with mine and I will continue to enjoy playing on it!”
Vadim Tsibulevsky
1st Concertmaster of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (Amsterdam), Soloist and Chamber Musician
“I am absolutely in love with this violin. It is so pleasant and easy to play on! It immediately responds to the smallest nuances in sound or colour… the violin has very projective big warm sound with a lot of depth. It feels, looks and, most importantly, sounds like an old instrument. Thank you, dear Florian!”
Tassilo Probst
Soloist
“Florian Leonhard’s True Copies are truly phenomenal instruments. I had the opportunity to compare various models with real Stradivaris and Del Gesus in London and must say that the copies are in no way inferior to the originals.
I especially loved the 1724 “Abergavenny” Stradivari model that I am currently playing. This violin is super easy to play, has an incredibly clear sound, a great color palette and, thanks to the somewhat more stable back, an almost even more voluminous and robust sound than the original!
So a tonal Stradivari for the price of a new build, the perfect violin for a young soloist. I am infinitely grateful to Florian Leonhard and his team for this opportunity!”
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Soloist and Conductor
“I have been playing this remarkable violin made in 2018. It is not only a great-looking violin, made as a copy of my fantastic Stradivari, the 1717 ‘Reiffenberg’, but it sounds extremely similar to my Strad, which is so rare for modern violins.
I have played it on many occasions in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music in many different countries and continents, and most colleagues of mine, who know my Strad, could not tell the difference between them. Wonderful achievement by Florian & his team – Bravo!!
I am looking forward to many more years and concerts to play with this violin in my hands.”
Eugene Tzikindelean
Leader, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
“In December of 2022 my concert instrument had to undergo some repairs and as usual the faithful team at FL offered to help me find something from their collection that could give life and voice to the Nielsen Violin Concerto I was going to perform later that month.
After trying a few extraordinary instruments I was handed one of the “True Copies” and it was absolutely love at first sight . Having tried the violin’s “mother” a few minutes earlier I was in shock with the depth, color and ease of playing for a violin that was born maybe a few weeks before. I couldn’t believe a young instrument had such a personal story to tell, and I immediately asked to borrow it for my performance. We spent together a wonderful 2-week honeymoon and after the first rehearsal in Birmingham my colleagues came immediately to ask on what golden period Strad I was playing!
I hope you can enjoy the wonderful golden tone, the sparkle, power and colours of the violin in my rendition of the Nielsen Violin Concerto and I highly recommend you visit the beautiful FLFV shop and place an order immediately! You will not be disappointed, these instruments feel and sound like something we could never ever afford.”
Nina Poskin
Viola co-soloist at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie / Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
“I have been playing on a copy of a Da Salo viola since 2015 and was the first person to be playing the instrument. She really opened up in the last couple of years and sounds now more like a little cello, which I love. I have now been successful in winning two orchestral auditions and get compliments often about the beautiful clear sound which carries easily in a large concert hall.”
Professor Leonid Kerbel
Brussels Conservatory (Belgium) and Royal College of music (London)
“The uncompromising quality in every aspect of violin making made me passionate about the work of the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins workshop.
It is this uncompromising knowledge, sensitivity and love for beautiful tone that made me decide to purchase my instrument, a Stradivari copy, from this outstanding workshop. After each performance I make, solo, recital or chamber music, the audiences ask me: ‘Are you playing on an Italian instrument?’ They are completely astonished when they learn that it is a modern instrument with an Old Italian sound!”
Line Faber
LGT Young Soloist. Royal College of Music 2015 to 2019.
“I feel extremely lucky to be playing on this wonderful instrument for several years already.
The violin is a Florian Leonhard true copy of the Marlboro Stradivari (Cremona 1718). What I find so special about it is the extremely rich tone quality and warm sound it has. I often get asked on which instrument I’m playing and people are always very surprised to hear that it is a modern violin. You rarely find modern instruments that sound so open and give you that many possibilities to explore different colours and characters. In that aspect it has many similarities with old Italian instruments and that’s the beauty of it!”
Professor Tomotada Soh
Royal Academy of Music (London)
“The violin you kindly sold me, made by you and your expert craftsmen in your workshop just gets better every day. The sound is golden and it carries to the back of huge concert halls. It is my pride and joy and admired by professionals and students around the world, it is a remarkable instrument and looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for making such fine instruments and giving such pleasure to all musicians.”
Katerina Nazarova
Soloist
“I was originally loaned my instrument, a copy of the 1692 ex-Falmouth long pattern Strad, back in 2012 for a competition but I fell in love with it immediately and had to have it. Mind you, it took me a whole year to persuade Florian to sell it to me as it is such an exceptional copy he didn’t want to let go of it! It has a most beautiful warm sound to it but is also incredibly deep and rich too. And the instrument looks like the real deal, it’s so beautiful. Having held it and played it alongside real Strads of that era there is hardly any difference. People are always asking me what my instrument is, and they never believe me when I tell them!”
Fedor Rudin
Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, Soloist and Competition Winner
“I play a “Kreutzer” Stradivari copy made by Florian Leonhard. When I got the violin in 2010, it was one of the first copies of antique violins to come out from the workshop. I am so lucky to have it! It has a very warm and powerful sound, which you rarely find in modern violins. Very often after playing a concert on it, when people ask about my instrument, nobody believes this is a modern instrument. Florian’s more recent violins look even more beautiful and antique, but I am very happy with mine and I will continue to enjoy playing on it!”
Vadim Tsibulevsky
1st Concertmaster of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (Amsterdam), Soloist and Chamber Musician
“I am absolutely in love with this violin. It is so pleasant and easy to play on! It immediately responds to the smallest nuances in sound or colour… the violin has very projective big warm sound with a lot of depth. It feels, looks and, most importantly, sounds like an old instrument. Thank you, dear Florian!”
Tassilo Probst
Soloist
“Florian Leonhard’s True Copies are truly phenomenal instruments. I had the opportunity to compare various models with real Stradivaris and Del Gesus in London and must say that the copies are in no way inferior to the originals.
I especially loved the 1724 “Abergavenny” Stradivari model that I am currently playing. This violin is super easy to play, has an incredibly clear sound, a great color palette and, thanks to the somewhat more stable back, an almost even more voluminous and robust sound than the original!
So a tonal Stradivari for the price of a new build, the perfect violin for a young soloist. I am infinitely grateful to Florian Leonhard and his team for this opportunity!”
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Soloist and Conductor
“I have been playing this remarkable violin made in 2018. It is not only a great-looking violin, made as a copy of my fantastic Stradivari, the 1717 ‘Reiffenberg’, but it sounds extremely similar to my Strad, which is so rare for modern violins.
I have played it on many occasions in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music in many different countries and continents, and most colleagues of mine, who know my Strad, could not tell the difference between them. Wonderful achievement by Florian & his team – Bravo!!
I am looking forward to many more years and concerts to play with this violin in my hands.”
Eugene Tzikindelean
Leader, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
“In December of 2022 my concert instrument had to undergo some repairs and as usual the faithful team at FL offered to help me find something from their collection that could give life and voice to the Nielsen Violin Concerto I was going to perform later that month.
After trying a few extraordinary instruments I was handed one of the “True Copies” and it was absolutely love at first sight . Having tried the violin’s “mother” a few minutes earlier I was in shock with the depth, color and ease of playing for a violin that was born maybe a few weeks before. I couldn’t believe a young instrument had such a personal story to tell, and I immediately asked to borrow it for my performance. We spent together a wonderful 2-week honeymoon and after the first rehearsal in Birmingham my colleagues came immediately to ask on what golden period Strad I was playing!
I hope you can enjoy the wonderful golden tone, the sparkle, power and colours of the violin in my rendition of the Nielsen Violin Concerto and I highly recommend you visit the beautiful FLFV shop and place an order immediately! You will not be disappointed, these instruments feel and sound like something we could never ever afford.”
Nina Poskin
Viola co-soloist at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie / Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
“I have been playing on a copy of a Da Salo viola since 2015 and was the first person to be playing the instrument. She really opened up in the last couple of years and sounds now more like a little cello, which I love. I have now been successful in winning two orchestral auditions and get compliments often about the beautiful clear sound which carries easily in a large concert hall.”
Professor Leonid Kerbel
Brussels Conservatory (Belgium) and Royal College of music (London)
“The uncompromising quality in every aspect of violin making made me passionate about the work of the Florian Leonhard Fine Violins workshop.
It is this uncompromising knowledge, sensitivity and love for beautiful tone that made me decide to purchase my instrument, a Stradivari copy, from this outstanding workshop. After each performance I make, solo, recital or chamber music, the audiences ask me: ‘Are you playing on an Italian instrument?’ They are completely astonished when they learn that it is a modern instrument with an Old Italian sound!”
Line Faber
LGT Young Soloist. Royal College of Music 2015 to 2019.
“I feel extremely lucky to be playing on this wonderful instrument for several years already.
The violin is a Florian Leonhard true copy of the Marlboro Stradivari (Cremona 1718). What I find so special about it is the extremely rich tone quality and warm sound it has. I often get asked on which instrument I’m playing and people are always very surprised to hear that it is a modern violin. You rarely find modern instruments that sound so open and give you that many possibilities to explore different colours and characters. In that aspect it has many similarities with old Italian instruments and that’s the beauty of it!”
Professor Tomotada Soh
Royal Academy of Music (London)
“The violin you kindly sold me, made by you and your expert craftsmen in your workshop just gets better every day. The sound is golden and it carries to the back of huge concert halls. It is my pride and joy and admired by professionals and students around the world, it is a remarkable instrument and looks absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for making such fine instruments and giving such pleasure to all musicians.”
Katerina Nazarova
Soloist
“I was originally loaned my instrument, a copy of the 1692 ex-Falmouth long pattern Strad, back in 2012 for a competition but I fell in love with it immediately and had to have it. Mind you, it took me a whole year to persuade Florian to sell it to me as it is such an exceptional copy he didn’t want to let go of it! It has a most beautiful warm sound to it but is also incredibly deep and rich too. And the instrument looks like the real deal, it’s so beautiful. Having held it and played it alongside real Strads of that era there is hardly any difference. People are always asking me what my instrument is, and they never believe me when I tell them!”
Fedor Rudin
Concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, Soloist and Competition Winner
“I play a “Kreutzer” Stradivari copy made by Florian Leonhard. When I got the violin in 2010, it was one of the first copies of antique violins to come out from the workshop. I am so lucky to have it! It has a very warm and powerful sound, which you rarely find in modern violins. Very often after playing a concert on it, when people ask about my instrument, nobody believes this is a modern instrument. Florian’s more recent violins look even more beautiful and antique, but I am very happy with mine and I will continue to enjoy playing on it!”
Vadim Tsibulevsky
1st Concertmaster of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (Amsterdam), Soloist and Chamber Musician
“I am absolutely in love with this violin. It is so pleasant and easy to play on! It immediately responds to the smallest nuances in sound or colour… the violin has very projective big warm sound with a lot of depth. It feels, looks and, most importantly, sounds like an old instrument. Thank you, dear Florian!”
Tassilo Probst
Soloist
“Florian Leonhard’s True Copies are truly phenomenal instruments. I had the opportunity to compare various models with real Stradivaris and Del Gesus in London and must say that the copies are in no way inferior to the originals.
I especially loved the 1724 “Abergavenny” Stradivari model that I am currently playing. This violin is super easy to play, has an incredibly clear sound, a great color palette and, thanks to the somewhat more stable back, an almost even more voluminous and robust sound than the original!
So a tonal Stradivari for the price of a new build, the perfect violin for a young soloist. I am infinitely grateful to Florian Leonhard and his team for this opportunity!”
