Istvan Konya “Senior”, father to Stefano Conia “Senior” and grandfather to Stefano Conia il “Giovane”, is a man whose strength comes from other times. Reading now about his life it's impossible not to ask ourselves how people in those times have been able to survive in an era of oppressive regimes, forced to give up everything, freedom first. And how they could after all of these sufferings and humiliation raise their head and get on living hoping for a better future. Would we be able to do like them as well?

From left to right , from high to low: Stefano Conia "Il Giovane", Lajos Konya, Stefano Conia, Istvan Konya "Senior", Lajos Bela Konya

Istvan Konya "Senior" original family

Istvan was born in 1919 in a small Hungarian province. In those times a harsh recession hit the nation, and his family was forced to relocate often for survival reasons. After the primary schools, he and his brother, in agreement with the father, seek work moving to France.

They soon find employment in a coal mine; work is hard but well paid, and the two brothers can even send some money back home to help their family. After just three years in France, in 1939, forced by that enormous madness that was World War Two, the brothers Istvan and Géza have to get back home crossing Alps during an adventurous bicycle travel.

France, 1936

Left to right: his second born Lajos Bela, his first wife Ilona and Istvan

When war ends Istvan diplomates as a photographer and soon opens his workshop. In 1944 marries Ilona Bodor with whom he will have two sons, Istvan jr, afterwards Italianized Stefano, and Lajos. Business runs well and the family fortifies; Istvan can even buy a house and a car. But he cannot accept the authoritarian regime governing his nation, and he decides not to get along any longer with it.

He sells his properties to relatives and friends and secretly tries to escape from his dear Hungary, in which he feels he can't live any longer.
Unfortunately your worst enemy is always nearer than you'd think, and it's a close friend, almost a '"relative" which denounces him and Istvan with his whole family is catched at the frontier and arrested.
He is sentenced to five years in prison. Since he is a strong character and doesn't tolerate the situation in which he's been forced, he tries to escape twice. He is always catched again and the two escapes cost him four additional prison years.

In 1956 the political situation changes, and in the end he is set free; but seven long years have deprived him of all. His wife, tired of waiting, has married with another man and doesn't allow him to see his sons. He has no home or workshop anymore. As always, he doesn't give up and with a camera given to him by a cousin, he starts over again.

An year after his business is healthy again and during summer he asks permission to his ex-wife to spend vacations with his sons, she partly consents to his request sending over only the older one: Istvan jr. When summer is over he refuses to send back his son and a legal battle commences for custody, which he will obtain after several years not only for Istvan jr, but also for the younger son Lajos.

He is now breathing again. He opens a second workshop and, feeling the need of his sons to have a female reference figure, he marries again. But the political situation which seemed to have got better is becoming now difficult again. He is forced to enter a social cooperative, and this is a particularly heavy burden for one like him who is used to be free. At the end of 1959 a friend tells him that there is the possibility to open a workshop in a nearby village, and he decides to take his family and try a new adventure.

Istvan jr, the older son, diplomates in violin, obtains his secondary school license with good results and finds a work in the near hospital. Lajos instead follows the father's career and diplomates in photography.

Finally, aged 44, with a new workshop in the city of Tatabanya, where in the meantime he had returned in 1964 and since his younger son is now able to continue the photography activity, he decides to pursue his most ambitious dream. To become a violin builder. Istvan had met the violin at age thirteen. He himself told a tale about a friend at school who showed him his violin and he was so struck to absolutely want to own one.

Unfortunately family finances were too scarce to allow him to study or indeed own a violin. So he decided to build one. After having had the wood as a gift from a friend who was a carpenter, with the help of a knife and much of his will he in the end succeeded in building his violin. Sure, it was not beautiful like his friend's and had a painted fingerboard (he couldn't find the needed ebony); but it wasn't too bad, either. Above all, the main thing he understood from this experience was the immense joy to listen to the sound produced by an instrument that was built with his hands, soul and heart.

his son with a violin built by the father

This passion will never leave Istvan, who will continue to build violins of better and better quality year by year. He builds one for his son, and it's his son's Istvan jr's teacher who, noticed the good instrument quality, congratulates with the builder and introduces him to many musicians. For Istvan this is a launch. His violins are successful, his name starts to be known in the whole Hungary, and the musicians who appreciate his instruments are more and more important. Even the great Maestro David Oistrakh, in Budapest for a concert, had the occasion to praise his instruments.

His great opportunity arrived when Maestro Yehudi Menuhin liked his violins so much to order five for his English school. Menuhin promised to help him with the necessary documentation to enable him to go to Cremona to refine his luthier techniques.
Maestro delivered on his word; soon after the necessary authorisations are given to leave the country and Istvan leaves to his most desired place. Cremona.

At first, life in Italy is not easy. He finds home in an Hungarian family which helps him to start his new life. But difficulties are more than a few. He doesn't speak Italian and he is an already mature man among teenagers. However, determined to finish his task, he completes the five Menuhin's violins during his first school year. He will have in Rome the satisfaction to personally deliver them, adding one more as a thank-you gift for all the help received.

At the Cremona School with his classmate Nakamura

His outstanding work capability and his engagement allow him to enjoy the esteem of his teachers. He proves worthy of it, winning two years in a row the Gold Medal at a national contest, and afterwards diplomating and obtaining again the same award.

At work in Hungary, in his workshop

Back in Hungary, honoured citizen, he opens a workshop and starts building his instruments. He is now a successful professional, and his violins are sought after by musicians and receive awards in various international competitions. Up to the most important: the Silver Medal at the 1976 Triennale di Cremona in the Cello category.

Now professional success is achieved and Istvan has a sole dream still to be realized: to build a house with a workshop like one he had seen in Italy years before. This dream comes true in 1992; he gets in contact with the owners and he is allowed to make an inspection with his achitect friend. Soon after the building works start.

At an international exhibition with his sons Istvan and Lajos Bela

In this place, among his beloved violins, Istvan Konya “Senior” passed away on June 15, 1999, after dedicating his whole life to his passion and to become one of the greatest Hungarian luthiers of all times.

Maestro Istvan Konya "Senior" among his beloved intruments

 

Stefano Conia 'Il Giovane" (Stefano Konya)

Stefano Conia (Istvan Konya)

Istvan Konya "Senior"