Portrait
Leo Goujard Spiga is a French luthier who works between the French Pyrenees and Italy, making violins, violas and cellos. He discovered the craft at sixteen on a visit to a luthier's workshop in Spain and has given it his whole attention since.
He moved to Cremona and trained at the Antonio Stradivari international school, then continued with recognised masters across Europe. For eight years he worked as assistant to the master maker Robert Brewer Young in France, where he honed his craft and drew much of his inspiration. He now builds to a personal model. His deepest affinity is with the Neapolitan school and the living tradition of the Gagliano family, whose finest examples he uses as a point of departure rather than a template.
His instruments are played by established professionals and soloists.
Leo is a maker we met relatively recently and the quality was immediately apparent. His violins are powerful and bright, and the character shows from the first note. The resonance is remarkable and the overtones give real depth and richness, so every note feels alive, and the ease of playing and natural projection do a great deal of the work for the player. The cellos are powerful and impressive, and represent exceptional value at their price. The grace and individuality of the southern Italian tradition come through clearly in everything he makes.
Elsewhere
Compare instruments against each other, and against an antique, in a blind test with studio audio. No labels until you have chosen.
What models does Leo Goujard Spiga work from?
His own personal model, drawing on the Gagliano and Neapolitan tradition.
Where are Leo Goujard Spiga instruments made?
In France. Every instrument is then set up and checked in our own London workshop before it reaches a player.
