Portrait
Leonidas Rafaelian is a Greek-born master luthier who has worked in Cremona since 1995. He came to making as a violist, having studied at the Conservatory of Music in Athens before turning to the bench.
He trained under Gio Batta Morassi, one of the defining figures of postwar Cremonese making, and has built a career on commissions from players at the very top of the profession. Instruments of his have been made for Mstislav Rostropovich, Zakhar Bron, Maxim Vengerov and Yuri Bashmet, and in 2000 he made a violin for Roby Lakatos.
That client list is unusual for a contemporary maker and speaks for itself. His instruments are in professional hands across Europe.
The 2000 violin made for Roby Lakatos is a very interesting instrument and a reminder that Rafaelian builds for the player in front of him. It has a warm, rounded sound that suits orchestral and chamber playing particularly well, the strings ring with a full tone, and double stops feel notably open and free. Instruments with a named commission behind them carry a provenance that most contemporary work simply does not have.
Played by
Mstislav Rostropovich, Zakhar Bron, Maxim Vengerov, Yuri Bashmet, Roby Lakatos
Elsewhere
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Who plays Leonidas Rafaelian instruments?
Instruments have been commissioned by Mstislav Rostropovich, Zakhar Bron, Maxim Vengerov, Yuri Bashmet and Roby Lakatos, alongside professional players internationally.
Where are Leonidas Rafaelian instruments made?
In Cremona, Italy.
