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Dear Friends,
Sometimes humans in general and musicians in particular make unimportant things important, such as the origin of a musical instrument. As long as it serves its purpose, namely, to produce a wonderful sound I thank the makers, no matter where they live.
In this context I frequently mention my own career as a professional viola player in Germany and later on in Australia. I enjoyed playing on my old, dark viola, made in 1752 (valued at £12,000), with the maker’s original European label. Animato now sells violas, crafted in China, for under £1500 that I consider superior in sound and appearance than the one that I used with pleasure to earn my living.
As musicians, we want the ‘best sound for the pound,' because we want to make good music, after all.
The high class of some Chinese instruments is truly delightful! They are modelled after Stradivarius or Guarnerius, ‘designed in Italy’, so to speak, without the Italian price tag. Animato has established exclusive links to small, premium workshops in China. You may be as surprised as I have been when you see and hear one of these instruments...
Music helps us to love life. If Animato’s instruments help this attitude towards life, then I am satisfied that you, the musician, and I make proper use of our allocated time on this planet.
Dietrich Lasa
