Christian Bayon

Violin maker
Lisbon - Amsterdam

Photo © David Rodrigues
Photo © Antonio Pedro Ferreira

Well known as a specialist in restoring string instruments, Christian Bayon’s clients are renowned musicians such as Maxim Vengerov, Truls Mork, Jian Wang, Augustin Dumay, Gérard Caussé,  Torleif Thedéen and Adrian Brendel. Christian was the violin maker of the Stavanger Chamber Music Festival (Norway) for eight years at the invitation of Artistic Director Truls Mork.

Born in Paris, Christian Bayon started making violins at twenty-one. He won the “Bourse de la Vocation” prize of excellence three years later. He joined the Jean Schmitt workshop in Lyon, working simultaneously with the French acoustician Emile Leipp. In 1982, Christian became Etienne Vatelot’s assistant. In 1990, he established himself in Lisbon, Portugal.

In 2003 Christian decided to use his experience with prestigious ancient instruments to make new ones. It became his primary focus, mainly reproducing 18th Century Italian cellos and violins. Since 1997 Christian has been a member of the International Society of Violin and Bow Makers. Amongst musicians playing his instruments are Tedi Papavrami, Alina Pogotskina, Isabelle Van Keulen, Vladimir Spivakov, Augustin Dumay, Anthony Marwood, Michal Kanka, Pavel Gomziakov, Tatiana Samouil, Silvia Simionescu, Liana Gourdjia, as well as several other soloists, teachers and concertmasters in various European orchestras.

Since 2021, he has shared his time between Lisbon and Amsterdam, opening a second workshop.

Contact Christian

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Address

Rua do Borja 55 - 1Cve
1350-045 Lisboa
Portugal