Josh Plotner visits the recorder paradise
Josh Plotner sets the stage as part of the
Hans Zimmer Immersive Symphony 2026 Tour
for the soundtrack to Da Vinci Code
the sigo tenor recorder.
In the workshop, ...
... Far from the arena, a low hum from the bass register, then silvery highs, clear and tangible - this is the sound of Josh Plotner's world.
Between sold-out arenas and impressive film sounds, the multi-woodwind player made a stop far away from the stage: In Fulda, where craftsmanship, sound research and vision meet.
"I'm impressed," says Plotner. "How much technology is used here to develop innovative instruments and then reliably build them in series."
Instruments as stage partners Plotner plays instruments that have long since become actors in his music. His Paetzold by Kunath contrabass recorder with direct blow delivers magical depths that can carry the soundscape of the great film music moments.
During the tour, he is accompanied by the sigo tenor, which combines modern precision with great expressiveness - a tenor that effortlessly blends into orchestral soundscapes and can also hold its own as a soloist.
During the workshop tour, jo Kunath demonstrated the current range of techniques and worked together to optimise them.
How can an instrument connect even more directly with the player's breath?
Where can ergonomics be improved, where can tone colour be deepened?
A dialogue at eye level Between workbenches, wooden blanks, 3D printers and finished instruments, an expert discussion quickly developed at eye level.
"We are always interested in what artists really need in order to be musically free," explains Jo Kunath. "When someone like Josh with his experience tells us what happens on stage, we listen very carefully."
They talked about new developments, the possibilities of special extensions to instruments for professionals and the opportunities that materials such as RESONA and high-quality birch plywood offer to create expressive instruments that make the everyday life of a touring musician easier.
A promise kept At the end of the meeting there was a moment that will be remembered: Jo Kunath presented Josh Plotner with the first sigo F bass recorder - an ultra-compact bent-bass in F that combines depth and musical agility, which it allows full contact with the tone holes.
The handover was more than just a formal act; it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the collaboration between musician and workshop.
Jo Kunath invited Josh to use the Sigo F bass as another building block to provide lively feedback for further developments.
Where passion meets precision What remains from this day is the feeling of a special exchange - between master craftsmanship and musical excellence, between the workbench and the world stage.
In Fulda, it became clear once again that innovation is not only created where ideas are born, but also where passion meets precision and both sides are willing to listen.
