“While the Cremonese school has to be the benchmark, we love to deepen our research into lesser-known schools of making, such as Milan and Brescia, to take inspiration from their hidden gems.” Gibertoni and Nalin.
The combination of a long and solid experience in construction, making, and set up, together with a young mind, with a free and enthusiastic spirit, has proven to be a collaboration that is extremely stimulating for both of them. This is how these two makers team up their skills in violin-making. Stefano Gibertoni and Valerio Nalin take advantage of the unity to create better work, they collaborate together in the making of violins, violas, and cellos in their workshop in Milan.
Let’s meet these two incredible violin makers: Gibertoni and Nalin
Stefano Gibertoni, Italian, 54 years old, 30 years of experience.
From a musical family, he studied violin as a child; after high school, he visited the violin-making school and was fascinated by the environment and the passion of his future teacher, Luca Primon. I enthusiastically joined in, reconnecting to the instruments family.
Valerio Nalin, Italian, 28 years old, 7 years of experience.
From a young age, he was inspired by his parentsʼ love for arts and music, studied guitar for years and developed a passion for drawing and painting. After graduating from high school, he decided to merge these two passions into a new path, which led him to the violin-making school where he met Stefano.
But how did it all start?
After graduating in 1991 at Civica Scuola di Liuteria di Milano under the guidance of Maestro Luca Primon, Stefano moved to the UK to work as a maker/restorer for some UK shops. He then settled and opened his own business in Sheffield in 1994, where he worked as a maker for the UK and the international market. In his professional development, he found most valuable the Oberlin violin making workshop, Ohio-USA, attended since 2001, where he learned from some among the best makers worldwide, the physics of tone production and the art of antiquing. Very fondly remembered is also a work experience at Frederick Oster Fine Violins in Philadelphia, where he developed some valuable restoration and setup skills.
In 2012, Stefano moved back to Milan and returned to the Civica Scuola di Liuteria as a teacher of new making and varnishing. Here he met Valerio, one of the most talented students, and after his graduation, they continued to collaborate together up to the present day. They developed their own interpretations, inspired by Cremonese and Milanese 17th and 18th-century makers.
Two minds think and work better
In the partnership, they combine very traditional methods but also rely on technology and science. A beautiful, powerful, and even tone is a consistent aspect of their production that has been recognized by clients and in international competitions alike; this, coupled with a detailed and realistic antiqued look, has proven a winning combination.
It is proved by their awards collection! Each of them is excellent luthiers:
2004, Silver Medal for violin tone VSA (Violin Society of America), USA (Gibertoni)
2010, 5th place for cello at the International Competition in Mittenwald, Germany (Gibertoni)
2014, Silver Medal for cello and viola at the International Violin Making Competition “Soul and shape”, Moscow, Russia (Gibertoni)
2014, Bronze Medal for violin at the International Violin Making Competition “Soul and shape”, Moscow, Russia (Gibertoni)
2014, Viola best sound quality at the International Violin Making Competition “Soul and shape”, Moscow, Russia (Gibertoni)
2018, Viola best sound quality and Honorable mention diploma for craftsmanship, Malta (Gibertoni)
2019, First Prize for violin, viola, and cello, antiqued instruments section, Fermo, Italy (Gibertoni)
2019, Second Prize for violin, antiqued instruments section, Fermo, Italy (Nalin)
Their unity creates unique instruments
Gibertoni and Nalin begin with thorough research of original instruments, attempting to remain faithful to the construction and style of each maker. The construction method combines traditional procedures and techniques with a variety of cutting-edge technologies.
From the very beginning, the choice of materials is carefully selected based on their density and speed of sound. The frequencies of each plate are measured at various stages of the construction to regulate stiffness; this ensures consistent repeatability of results. The varnishing techniques implemented in recent years have led to an authentic antiqued look.
“While constantly researching to better ourselves, we always explore new models and patterns, looking into their shape and acoustic properties. We investigate wood textures and varnish effects, trying to stay within the boundaries of each historical maker we are copying, but sometimes introducing our flavor and touch, resulting in each instrument being exclusive, standing proud in their uniqueness.”
Together Gibertoni and Nalin make true masterpieces! Keep scrolling and their violin available on our website!
Sounding Dark, sharp, and direct.
“Inspired by Carlo Giuseppe Testore’s peculiar making technique, its aesthetics, traditionally achieved by Testore to produce affordable instruments, results in a fascinating and spellbinding craft. The uniqueness persuaded us to make a fine violin that condenses all the features of this Milanese maker, from the missing fluting on the scroll’s back to the etched and inked purfling on the back.” – Gibertoni & Nalin
Want to receive news from this maker and his masterpieces? Subscribe to our newsletter and don’t miss a thing!