About us
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT di Giorgio Grisales While copying a master of the past I don’t take time simply in reproducing faithfully his work, but I also try to grab and to assimilate the spirit that inspired his construction project. This assimilation process, certainly far from limiting my individuality, was of great incentive to invent a style and to refine the taste that belongs to me, in order to find a smooth execution, quick but at the same time accurate and precise. The instruments that come out from my workshop embody this spirit, it permeates them. The sound result, the construction style, actually each element is the fruit of this symbiosis with the masters of the past. The other important ingredients of my activity of violinmaker are the accurate selection and the wood working, the careful preparation and the spreading of the varnish, and last but not least the passion for the historical research. All this allowed us to achieve a high quality in the construction of the bow instruments. The passion together with the close comparison with the masters allowed me to make instruments that have met the favour of the musicians in search of a finished and reliable mean to play music and that have obtained the appreciation of interpreters in search of a precious “fellow- traveller”.
Our workshop is located in the beautiful medieval historical centre of Cremona, right at the feet of the famous Torrazzo, the hightest bell tower in Europe. It’s often visited by several famous artists and musicians from all over the world.
Giorgio Grisales was born in 1963. He moved to Cremona in 1982 where he began his first approach to the art of violinmaking. In 1988 he graduated at the “International School of Violinmaking” and was issued a diploma in bowmaking after attending a course organized by the “Regione Lombardia”. His professional training was completed when he graduated at the “Civic School of Violinmaking” in Milan for musical instrument restoration. He opened his workshop in Cremona and after over 30 years of activity as a violinmaker, Grisales’ instruments are well-known and appreciated all over the world. Giorgio Grisales’ wide production ranges from violins to a fine selection of violas, cellos and doublebasses, always drawing inspiration from the great Italian masters of the past such as Ferdinando Garimberti, Giuseppe Ornati and the old “Cremonese School” (Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri del Gesù).
At the XI International Violinmaking Triennale Contest “A. Stradivari”, G. Grisales was awarded with the silver medal in the doublebass section.
Ricardo Carrasquilla Grisales was born in 1980 and in 2000 he started to learn the techniques of violinmaking at the workshop of his uncle G. Grisales in Cremona.In 2003 he graduated at the International Violinmaking School in Parma under the direction of masters Elisa and Renato Scrollavezza together with master Marco Imer Piccinotti.Up to nowadays, in his uncle’s workshop he could increase his passion and knowledge for the wonderful world of stringed instruments making. In 2003 he took part in the “Triennale of Stringed Instruments”.
Grisales Violinmakers
Violins, Violas, Cellos, Doublebasses
Via Sicardo, 2A
26100 Cremona – Italy
phone/fax: +39 0372 460047
mobile: +39 335 6058624
