by Alessio Zuccaro
Luthiers for three generations, or rather four: it was 1935 when Dario Vettori opened his workshop in Firenzuola, on the Florentine Apennines, and began a beautiful Italian story that continues to this day. There are six luthiers in the Vettori family: Dario, his sons (Paolo and Carlo), and his three grandchildren (Lapo, Sofia, and Dario). But the tradition does not seem to want to stop: “the great-grandchildren are already breathing the workshop air and one day, who knows, they might take up the baton from their parents,” says Lapo Vettori, whom we met in view of the 2024 edition of Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival.
What makes a Vettori instrument unique?
Each of the luthiers in our family has their own trademark: Paolo, our father, and Carlo, our uncle, have followed different paths, and we also have our own personal style, so our instruments are recognizable However, if I had to identify a common element for the whole family, I would say the search for sound. In particular, we focus on “playability,” that is, making the instruments easy to play, allowing the musician to express themselves at their best. To this end, we also evaluate weight and dimensions so that they do not hinder the musician’s work.
Some of your colleagues talk about our time as a golden age of violin making. Do you agree?
Yes, there is a lot of work and also a lot of competition. I don’t think there have ever been so many luthiers in history, not even in the time of Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri. The level, therefore, has risen a lot and this makes the profession even more stimulating. I identify two main causes: the opening of the huge Asian market, with millions of aspiring musicians who need as many instruments, and the rediscovery of craftsmanship, of quality work that is increasingly preferred over industrial and standardized work. We can provide, in fact, a product that can last even five hundred years: this is the age of the oldest violin in circulation!
Speaking of competition: do you have any advice for a young person who wants to pursue your profession?
I would suggest training at a school and then trying the experience abroad. Instruments, in fact, are mainly sold outside Italy, and it is important to feel the market with your own hands to be able to adapt to needs or be ready in case of a crisis.
What will you bring to Mondomusicathis year?
We will be accompanied by the classic instruments of the tradition: violins, violas, cellos. But in addition to the fair, this year in Cremona there will also be the 17th Triennial Violin Making Competition, in which my brother Dario and I will participate: another reason for us to return to this city to which we are very attached.
In cooperation with TGmusic.it
