My Instruments: My Other Primary Violin – Nurgül Çomak, Istanbul 2022

In June 2022, I was preparing to travel to Istanbul for a performance at the Istanbul Music Festival. At the time, I was playing a beautiful Italian violin crafted in 1700 by Carlo Giuseppe Testore, generously loaned to me by the German Music Foundation. But with my 30th birthday approaching, the loan period was coming to an end, and for the first time in years, I found myself without a violin of my own.

Just before that trip, I came across a video on Facebook—Nurgül Çomak was exhibiting her violins at the CRR Concert Hall in Istanbul, and one of her instruments was being tested by Özgecan Günöz, concertmaster of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. The violin had a sonorous, rich sound that immediately caught my ear. Intrigued, I reached out to Nurgül and arranged to meet her during my visit.

She brought two violins with her. While both were impressive in their own way, I fell in love instantly with one of them—and I knew it had to be mine. That violin has been with me ever since. More than just an instrument, it's also a piece of my homeland Turkey that I carry around. Nurgül and I have also become close friends; she is not only Turkey’s first female violin maker but also a warm, generous, and inspiring person.

The violin is modeled after Stradivari’s “Il Cremonese, 1715.” It has a voice that reminds me of a soprano—clear and resonant—supported by a strong, masculine foundation. Recently, it received a new sound post and bridge, beautifully set up by my friend Željko Haliti, which brought out even more color and power in the sound.

Are you playing on a modern instrument?
How do you feel they compare to older ones? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.