Luthier Francesco Coquoz shares thoughts on Radulović’s violin
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This is an excerpt from The Strad March 2026 feature, ’Nemanja Radulović: music in the moment’. Read the full article here
I’ve known Nemanja for many years; he used to come into our shop on the Rue de Rome when my father was in charge, and kept on coming in when I took it over ten years ago.
He’d tried out my last three violins, and then when he played my viola, he was so impressed that he said he’d like to try my next violin. He wanted something with good projection and a deep sound in the lower strings, although I didn’t make the violin with him in mind.
The violin is a personal model based on the 1690 ‘Tuscan–Medici’ Stradivari, but with a few touches from other makers I like; the f-holes, for instance, are copied from a Bergonzi. The back is made from one piece of beautiful slab-cut maple, and the scroll has blackened chamfers that highlight the curves.
While I was finishing it, I had the feeling that it would have nice resonance. The varnish is plain, with a very light patina. After a few months, I noticed that it was already showing signs of wear, which showed how much Nemanja was enjoying playing it!
When he came into the shop to try it, Nemanja asked if I could make the neck a little thinner. His other instrument, made in France in the early 20th century, has a thin neck and he didn’t want to adjust his playing style. So I reduced the thickness and it immediately felt more comfortable for him.
INTERVIEW BY CHRISTIAN LLOYD
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