Rupert Bawden

Violin, Viola, London, UK

I met Hans in London around 1999 as a quartet-playing partner. At the time he was just beginning his career as a maker and would bring instruments along for us to try. I was very intrigued and soon became intent on buying a new violin which I did in 2002, trading up with a second one in 2006 and a viola in 2008. I have performed the Mendelssohn and both Brahms concertos on them as well as many of the big ‘plays’ of the twentieth-century repertoire, sonatas by Bridge, Walton, Poulenc, Ravel, Ysaye – they have always served me brilliantly. I recently played the Bartok ‘Contrasts’ for which I borrowed my friend Ambrose Hogan’s specially commissioned violin for the scordatura so played two Pluhars within a few seconds. Another friend, David Hoyle, wrote the sound-track to a radio-play, ‘Never a Rose,’ multi-tracking parts for two violins and viola. Once again Hans’ instruments stood me in good stead. I salute him as a major talent!

James Ehnes

Soloist, Florida, USA

I am so impressed with Hans’ work. The violin I saw last week had tremendous quality of tone, variety of tone color, and range of dynamics, with great ease of response and an almost unreal resonance in the lower strings! It is beautifully made, in the finest tradition. I would recommend his instruments to anyone without hesitation.

Visit James Ehnes´ website here.

Rudi Berger

Jazz violin, Austria- Brazil

Hans Pluhar’s violins possess a responsiveness and an ability to react, qualities found only on extraordinary instruments. As you play them, you can sense the development potential, as each instrument grows enormously with the player — both tonally and characteristically — an attribute that makes a really good new violin. The violins’ clarity, freshness and assertiveness, but especially the dynamic range of the tone, undoubtedly bear the distinctive mark of the luthier, making it an original instrument of the highest caliber.

Watch a youtube portrait of  Rudi Berger here.

Mae Betts

Violin, Loughborough, UK

I am so enjoying my Pluhar violin. Simply hearing the sound of this instrument is music to my heart. It has a beautiful tone, a wonderfully even, balanced sound from string to string, and a good response. All of this makes it a joy to play as well as to look at as it is so beautifully crafted too.

Pieter Schoeman

Concert Master, London Philharmonic Orchestra

I fell in love with the Pluhar violin which became mine 4 days later. Three days after trying it, I used it in a concerto performance with the Wiener Concert-Verein. The next day I bought it. I’m blown away by the depth and richness of the bass while sparkling in the upper register. The D string is unusually powerful too…. all in all an amazingly even and balanced instrument with quick emission of sound yet warm qualities that would shine under any circumstances. I will never sell it…. ever.

Visit Pieter Schoeman´s profile on the LPO website here.

Marleen de Bruin

Ast. Principal 2nd Violins, Philharmonie ZuidNederland, Holland

I play on a violin from Hans Pluhar for ten years now , daily with a lot of pleasure. During playing in a symphonic orchestra the violin provides a clear yet profound sound. Playing more soloistic repertoire, I’m happy to notice the ease and comfort in virtuose passages and possibility to make so many different musical colours.

Werner Christof

Viola, Salzburg, Austria

Since 2 years I am playing a Viola by Hans Pluhar. Full and rich sound, a very warm and smooth timbre – perfect for chamber music! Also musician-colleagues from my Orchestra have made compliments on the good sound of the instrument. I am very happy with this Viola.

Johannes Flieder

Solo Viola, Vienna Symphony Orchestra

Hello! My name is Johannes Flieder, I have been the solo violist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for 37 years. About a month ago I bought a viola by Hans Pluhar, with which I am very satisfied and happy all around. In my case one can not take this for granted at all, have always been on the search, have had a lot in my hands. This instrument is characterized by a large, noble tone, it has no weaknesses, plays extremely pleasant and reacts in a very sensitive way. Thank you, dear Hans!

Visit Vienna Symphony Orchestra´s website here.

Nick Gazey

Violin, Hertfordshire, UK

I am now playing a lot thanks to the quality of the instrument not least- the sounds really cuts through the rest.

Harald Herzl

Head of strings department, Mozarteum Salzburg

For some years I have known about the qualities of Hans Pluhar´s violins. They distinguish themselves through a full, projecting sound and allow evoking a multitude of colors. His violins are suitable as solo instruments, their sound also blends in exquisitely in chamber music groups. A instrument by Hans Pluhar is a reliable companion for a demanding career.

Lukas Hagen

Violin Professor, Mozarteum Salzburg, Hagen Quartet

My student showed me your new violin today, heartfelt congratulations on it! The violin was convincing from the first tone. Very easy to play, great resistance on the middle strings in the 3rd and 4th position range and especially the wonderful feeling to have enough reserves. G String as well as E String with a character of their own, however fitting in very well with the general character. It sounds very even and pretty much played in, although this might not even be the case.

Maria Holzer-Graf

Ancora Trio, Leipzig, Germany

Dear Master Pluhar, I am very happy to tell you that my daughter wants to purchase your violin, which she has recently had on loan from Professor Lukas Hagen. We have tested it in competition with historic violins from all over Europe, including some from Genoa and Venice. We concluded that your violin was more convincing, for many different reasons. Ultimately, my daughter chose your new instrument, which she will use for her musical studies and, hopefully, in her professional career.

Visit Ancora Trio profile here.

Sebastian Holzknecht

Violin, Graz, Austria

Like a wand chooses the wizard, the violin chose me. Once in its spell I couldn’t resist the enormous beauty of this instrument. Both the warm-hearted sound and the fabulous appearance convinced me when I took out the violin of its case for the first time. For me this violin is more than just an instrument made from wood. It seems as if I can feel a soul in it’s sound like a Samurai feels the soul of his sword when he touches it. Thank you Hans for this great work!

Shkelzen Doli

Shkelzen Doli, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

As a violinist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, for me the sound of an instrument plays the most important role. It should imitate the human voice, project well and have a precise articulation. Having searched for such an instrument my life long, I have now found one by Hans Pluhar. I was surprised that a new violin could possess such qualities. My “Pluhar” is one of the best modern instruments I have ever played!

View profile of Shkelzen Doli on Philharmonic website here.

Julius Holzmann

Violin, Herts, UK

I want to say something to you as a member of the amateur crowd who are, I’m sure you will agree, just as important in the musical universe. On this violin there is a part of the range which stands out for a particular clarity, strength and richness of sound which lifts you up and makes you thank with all your heart Mozart for the music and the violin maker for the instrument. And a detail that may sound trivial: the pegs really work.

Ambrose Hogan

Educationalist and Church Musician, Oxford, UK

Thank you again for the fabulous violin. I have often reflected that your fiddle was a very good way of spending the money I saved. It was like that moment in Groundhog Day when Bill Murray learns to learn for the sake of learning and playing. And that’s when he gets the girl. It is such a pleasure working with your instrument, that I don’t know how I coped as a boy and teenager on the instrument I then had.

Yang Zhang

Violin, London Philharmonic Orchestra

I first played Hans’ violin in 2006 when it was just one month old. After playing it for a week I had fallen in love with it. The violin has a mature and rich quality. It has a sweetness on the E string and a mellowness in the lower register, it is a beautiful instrument! Since then we performed (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra) at major halls throughout Europe, Asia and the United States.

Visit Yang Zhang´s LPO profile here.

Ahim Horvath-Kisromay

Violin, Hungary

I won the audition for concertmaster in Aachen on my Pluhar violin. I love it. I never want to change “her”. Real pure love.

Jill Jones

Violin, Devon, UK

Still love the violin and it is becoming stronger and richer with use. An extremely good buy for me. I hope that your business continues to thrive.

Peter Manning

Conductor, London, UK

Hans’s violins are without doubt amongst the finest examples of the violin makers art. In sound they represent clarity and depth of sound and fine sound-colour variation with great amplitude and flexible tonal qualities. These are undoubtedly instruments for the world’s concert halls both within the symphonic, operatic and solo instrumental worlds.

Go to Peter Mannings homepage here.

Kevin Leung

Prins 2nd York Symphony, Paskke String Quartet, Canada

You might be glad to hear that I spent the first 6 minutes just holding it in my hands without playing a note, just appreciating the beauty of your craftmanship. I must express again that the depth of the varnish colours, flames, and shades of light reflecting off the surface and grain patterns, etc, makes it really attractive. I like to compare it to a great soprano or tenor, who has the voice to do the big dramatic roles of the likes of Tosca and Turandot in a really belcanto fashion, but on the other hand, can also scale back and produce the light sweet coloratura. I must say I feel very lucky to have one of your masterpieces – be it an infant whose head is still wet :- ) I will play very patiently and carefully to let it develop and open up.

Beat Marti-Leget

Violin, Switzerland

For a month now I am a happy owner of a new Hans Pluhar violin, Stradivari copy, still in the break in period. My grandfather bought a Gustav Luetschg, a copy of del Gesu in Berne a century ago, my father a fine violin from Torino which now is two hundred years old. For a limited time I also played a Stradivari and a Bergonzi, excellent instruments but both far away from my wallet. My Pluhar was very much appreciated now by a well known Russian virtuoso and wherever I show it, people are impressed. After a year I plan to give it to a really skilled young solo player who is really able to get even more out of it and I would like to get again a new instrument of Hans to start scales and double stops over for octaves three times daily.

Sebastian Führlinger

Viola, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

During my stays in Salzburg at the Summer Festival and the Mozart-Woche I visit Hans Pluhar´s workshop. His bow hair is always of high quality and also in all other violin making related matters I have full confidence in him.

Nela Mendelson

Violin, Salzburg and Belgrade

The concert went really well and the violin was much more comfortable to play. Plus it clearly sounded more open. Thanks again for your achievement. I am totally happy with my “high tech” bridge.

Katharina Pizzera

Violin- Actress, Vienna

For 23 years I have now been playing on a Pluhar Violin. When I was 12 years old, it was lying under the Christmas tree, my first full size violin. What a joy! I have grown with this instrument and it with me. We have changed, found together and developed. Until today it has been a constant and essential companion on the theatre stages.

Visit Katharina Pizzera´s website here.

Michael Schmid

Violin, Staatskapelle Dresden, Germany

During my studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg I had the chance to play on a Pluhar violin (Stradivari model) as a loan granted by the university. I really fell in love with the instrument!
Its powerful bright sound, richness of tone and flexibility helped me to improve a lot as a violinist during my musical education. Furthermore the violin got better and better during the years I played on it and became my faithful companion in chamber music and solo concerts, competitions and auditions.

Listen to Michael Schmid play Bach on a Pluhar Violin.

Camilo da Rosa Simoes

Violin, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, BR

I bought my Pluhar violin (a Stradivari model) in 2007, brand new. I’ve been continuously thrilled by its refined and projective sound. And it seems to keep evolving for the better! Besides making great violins, Hans is a really nice guy, open and straightforward.

Muhammedjan Sharipov

Violin, Mozarteum Salzburg

I have been playing a Pluhar violin owned by the University Mozarteum Salzburg for 3 years.
It’s always been pleasure to play it. Warm, bright and precise sound, which gives a great feeling during performing.  On it I have been awarded the 1st. prize in Remember Enescu International Violin Competition in Romania in 2015 and 1st prize in Ruggiero Ricci Violin Competition in Austria in 2017.

Watch Muhammedjan Sharipov play Paganini on a Pluhar Violin here.

Marija Spengler

Violin and Professor, London and Belgrade

I met Hans Pluhar over 15 years ago, in London, visiting his workshop to consult him about sound adjustment/improvement that had to be done on my violin. The final result has completely blown me away, but also the dedication and his effort in keeping track of every little change that has been tested in the process, on a separate piece of paper, to document it. Since then I have always had my instruments restored and adjusted at Hans Pluhar’s workshop. Recently I flew from London to Salzburg to have a major restoration of my 17th century violin, and was yet again very impressed with the superb craftsmanship and the sound improvement. I would recommend Hans Pluhar wholeheartedly to everyone.

Johannes Wels

Violin, Donauschrammeln, Austria

Over the past few years I have shown a couple of violins to Hans Pluhar for the reason of sound improvement. No matter what quality or price range Hans has always dedicated himself to my concerns with sincere engagement. It has happened more than once that he suggested clever solutions that I would never have thought of.  I have always been fascinated by the way he goes about sound problems and how competently he solves them. This is why I think it is worth driving a few 100km in order to benefit from Hans Pluhar’s expertise.

Listen to Johannes Wels play traditional Viennese songs on his Pluhar Violin.

Visanee Vongvirulh

Viola, Mozarteum Salzburg

I was using Hans‘s Viola for my “Schwerpunkt Bratsche” (Main Subject) at Mozarteum University, Salzburg. At the time I was looking for a good viola for my examination and my teacher, Anita Mitterer, advised me to visit his workshop. I remember that I smiled contentedly after playing the first note on his instrument, not only beautiful round and balanced sound but also easy to play. Because of Hans‘s Viola, I got „Sehr gut“ for the examination 🙂