Main content
The violin maker's salvation
After surviving a torturous childhood during WW2, Hans Benning finally found true love and happiness through his work repairing the world’s most priceless stringed instruments.
Hans and Nancy Benning met in Germany while studying the art of lutherie-repairing stringed instruments. Their love and work gave Hans the happiness he longed for growing up homeless and malnourished in West Germany during World War 2. Now living in California, they have been making and preserving the world’s most priceless violins for four decades.
Presenter: Clayton Conn
Producer: Deiniol Buxton
Picture: Hans Benning in his workshop
Credit: BBC/ Clayton Conn
Last on
Sun 22 Mar 202010:32GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
Broadcasts
- Sat 21 Mar 202023:32GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean
- Sun 22 Mar 202009:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 22 Mar 202010:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected
