Famous for his violas, Hungarian-born luthier Otto Erdesz (b.1917, d. 2000) began making his first instruments at the age of 24.  He was mainly self-taught and at one time mentored by violin maker Max Frirsz.  Erdesz emigrated to Toronto in 1975 and ultimately landed in Niagara Falls, New York.  His violin work followed the models of Guarneri while his viola work follows the traditional patterns of Brescian master Gaspar da Salo.  An extraordinarily prolific maker, he completed over 1000 violas that helped reinvent the modern style including the cutaway style viola.  During his lifetime, he was referred to as the “King of Violas”.

The workmanship and detail on this viola are phenomenal— deliberate, and exacting.  The viola’s voice transcends the marvel of its appearance!  Your dreams of a viola with a warm, richly deep balanced sound and projection are fulfilled with the Erdesz.  This instrument will be quite at home performing concertos and winning your next orchestra audition.