Sydney luthier Charalambos Vatiliotis, or Harry as he is known, is 86. Romano Crivici has known him and played his instruments for 50 years, so when Harry decided to retire, Crivici commissioned him to make one last violin for a documentary. Harriet Cunningham talks to them about Harry’s career, their long-standing friendship and the doco, The Last Violin.

Harry Vatiliotis
Harry Vatiliotis in his workshop with one of his violas in the 1980s. Photo courtesy of Harry Vatiliotis

Harry’s workshop is a chaotic mess of tools, wooden offcuts, post-it notes, nails, pins, old photos and newspaper clippings, pots of glue, clamps, knives and varnish, but one thing catches my eye. It’s under the light switch, between the pin board and the shelving unit, written on the wall in texta, the words...