2020 Bastien Burlot "Alkemia-Paris" CD/CSAR

A 2020 "Alkemia-Paris" classical guitar by Bastien Burlot, with a red cedar top and CSA rosewood aged for over 70 years – the third in his cathedral series, after Chartres and Strasbourg, dedicated to Notre-Dame de Paris.

In the video above, Taso Comanescu plays Thomas Moore's "My Gentle Harp" on this guitar.

In Bastien Burlot's Words

"When I started the quest that would lead me to the 'Alkemia' project, I knew that Notre-Dame de Paris would be a special moment. We all know the tragedy of the recent fire that partially wounded the cathedral and it took me a long time to find out if I still had the courage to continue the work on this model that I had begun a few months prior to the fire. I finally thought it would be a great homage to anticipate its restoration by offering this very special guitar that I'm now continuing to work on. I opted for exceptional woods that I have kept precisely for such an ideal moment. I am using some very old CSA rosewood (aged for over 70 years) and also a beautiful red cedar top that will bring, I hope, a lot of character to the instrument. I was fortunate enough to visit Notre-Dame de Paris recently and I was once again captivated by the immense evocative power of the building, particularly when passing in its forecourt, all the bells began to ring and I was struck by the timeless majesty that emanated from it. What beauty, what power … and what unfathomable magic too! These are the reasons that led me to design this guitar with special attention. I wanted to capture the essence of this majesty and offer the strengths of a modern concert instrument associated with the nobility of timeless architectural monument. To create the rosette, I chose to take inspiration from the South Rose which is dedicated to the New Testament. The exterior elements are composed of modern stained glass for the windows by Jacques Le Chevalier. I have chosen a stylistic approach that crosses the ages and can also lead to a more symbolic vision for those who may seek to unravel their mysteries…"

A Spire in the Head Veneer

Fit and finish are extremely clean, as always with Bastien, and the materials are gorgeous – including a stunning CSA rosewood head veneer that he cut so that the sapwood rises like a spire in his head shape. The sound is as impressive as the design: rich, big and bold, thick with deep resonances, with carrying power across all registers.

Photos of this guitar taken during construction

Read more: Orfeo Magazine No. 21 – The New French Generation (with a feature on Bastien Burlot)

Bastien Burlot: From the Paris Conservatoire to the Workbench

Bastien Burlot is a French classical guitar maker who works in Aubazine, in the Corrèze. A guitarist first, he studied at the Conservatory of Lille and then in Roland Dyens' class at the Paris Conservatoire, where he built his first guitar during an internship in a luthier's workshop. He taught guitar for seven years while building at home, and in 2009, with some 30 instruments behind him, he became a full-time luthier.

The "Alkemia" Cathedral Guitars

Known at first for modern designs – his "Maestro hf" model, with a soundhole in the side, was built for eight years – Bastien has built for Roland Dyens and Thomas Viloteau. His "Alkemia" guitars combine traditional lutherie, studied through masters such as Torres and Hauser, with the symbolism and sacred geometry of the great French cathedrals. He was featured in Orfeo Magazine No. 21, on the new French generation.