Arturo Virgoletti, one of the few italian lute-makers, invited our school's class to visit his small workshop in Trinità of Canossa (RE) where he talked about his job and how he learnt it.

This passion has been transfered to him by his father, well experienced in working wood and lutes; later he improved his knowledge in the workshop of another lute-maker in Reggio. The first instrument manifactured by him was a guitar, well considered by the skill musician. His work lacked of method: to avoid this he decided to go to be apprenticed to a master craftsman of R.E., Sesto Rocchi. He was not satisfied with this experience, later he went to Cremona in the school of one of the most famous lute-maker in the word: Francesco Bissolotti and thanks to him; his instruments improved substantialy in quality: at the beginning they were sold for £.600.000, today their value is up to £.12.000.000. Arturo Virgoletti makes an average of seven violins per year, mostly of them are sold in Japan, according to the general appreciaton of the european music in asiatic country. His activity has not idle times even if he has not firm order, he makes his instruments and he sends them to different shows to let people know them. His job is not limitated to make new products but also to restore the old string ones . His job is according to Virgoletti, a real passion: you need patience, devotion and specialisation: infact , still today, he attends periodically the school' lessons in Cremona.