From an early age, in the studio of his sculptor father, Thomas Bertrand (born in 1963) was able to observe the metamorphosis of matter. But it was the music that constantly filled the studio that exerted an irresistible attraction on him. Through learning to play the cello he became aware of a fascinating synthesis of matter, form, and sound.
After a brief period at university, he immersed himself in the spirit, styles, and techniques of classic Italian violin making in Cremona. After graduating from that city’s International School of Violin Making (IPIALL) in 1986, he went on to further training in Germany, where he learned about the restoration of the masterpieces of the past. In 1991 he opened his workshop in Brussels, where he both makes instruments and carries out sound optimisation.
Thomas Bertrand constructs a unique means of expression for musicians. He places at their disposal a palette of timbres, of sound material. He optimises the interactions between the instrument and the performer, ensuring that every detail makes for the greatest possible ease of playing: the thickness and profile of the neck, the shape of the fingerboard, the curve of the bridge, the choice of strings, adjustments adapted to the style of play, the size of the instrument in relation to the musician’s build (especially for violas and cellos), etc.
From an early age, in the studio of his sculptor father, Thomas Bertrand (born in 1963) was able to observe the metamorphosis of matter. But it was the music that constantly filled the studio that exerted an irresistible attraction on him. Through learning to play the cello he became aware of a fascinating synthesis of matter, form, and sound.
After a brief period at university, he immersed himself in the spirit, styles, and techniques of classic I...
Bertrand,Thomas
