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Hilary Hahn: Born original
From 1999: Hahn shares her love of writing, solo Bach, her educational background and her insights on the great violinists of our time
‘A perfect piece of music’: Cellist Hannah Roberts performs Elgar
Violinist Josef Špaček signs with Intermusica Deutschland
‘There is no course on how to lead an orchestra!’ - Vesko Eschkenazy’s life lessons
Portrait: Alex Baranowski, La Pietà/Angèle Dubeau (violin)
Future of pernambuco decided at CITES convention
The Strad Podcast #67: Curtis Stewart on Julia Perry’s Violin Concerto
On 2 December, the violinist will give the premiere performance of a 20th-century work that has fallen into obscurity
Violinist and composer Felix Yaniewicz – father of the first Edinburgh Festival
David Kettle discovers the history of the 18th-century Polish–Lithuanian violinist, composer and entrepreneur Felix Yaniewicz
Masterclass: Hummel Potpourri for viola and piano
Violist Timothy Ridout considers the endless invention and simple elegance of a work written for popular appeal
Masterclass: Schumann sonata no.1 op.105 for violin and piano
Masterclass: Debussy Cello Sonata
How to practise Hummel: Tabea Zimmermann’s video guide
Masterclass: Hummel Sonata op.5 no.3 for Piano and Viola
'Concentrating on perfectionism is never a good idea, so we focus on musical concepts instead' Masterclass: Mozart String Quartet K428
Latest Magazine
Inside December's magazine
Andrew Dipper takes a close look at the 1693 Antonio Stradivari 'Harrison' violin a prime example of the master luthier’s ‘Long Pattern’ and used to be the principal performing instrument of Kyung Wha Chung.
The Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl tells Amanda Holloway about his world-premiere recording of Jan Kubelík’s First Concerto – and why he chooses to play a blue violin.
Thomas Eisner of the London Philharmonic Orchestra reveals what went on when he joined the orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival this past summer.
Born 275 years ago François Xavier Tourte, displayed his creativity in every bow he crafted. Paul Childs compares and contrasts two examples from his late period.
Peter Quantrill talks to cellist Pablo Ferrández about his collaboration with Anne-Sophie Mutter on a recording of Brahms and Clara Schumann.
Premium ❘ Feature
Hilary Hahn: Born original
From 1999: Hahn shares her love of writing, solo Bach, her educational background and her insights on the great violinists of our time
Premium ❘ Feature
The most important violin in the world? - The 1716 ‘Messiah’ Stradivari violin
Stradivari’s 1716 ‘Messiah’ violin has beguiled with its pristine condition for 300 years, despite having remained mute for most of that time. John Dilworth examines the mystique surrounding this enigmatic instrument that still refuses to give up its secrets
Premium ❘ Feature
CT-Scanning the ‘Messiah’ Stradivari violin
In 2016 the ‘Messiah’ Stradivari was the subject of an extensive CT scanning project. Francesco Piasentini and Gregg Alf examine the resulting data, discovering repair work in the neck, and attempt to determine how it had originally been set
Premium ❘ Feature
Blue Sky Teaching: Using creative approaches to refine students’ technique
In our June 2019 issue, Judith Kogan spoke with three string teachers, all based in North America and whose unique ideas are achieving significant results
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Keeping the accompanist on his toes’ - Postcard from Santander
Tim Homfray travels to the northern coast of Spain to experience a unique gathering of young chamber players and master musicians
Premium ❘ Focus
‘Its brilliance overwhelmed me with emotion’ - Philippe Quint on Franck’s Violin Sonata
The Russian-born American violinist shares how César Franck’s masterpiece opened his eyes to the vast possibilities of Romantic repertoire
Premium ❘ Article
Analysis December 2022: A safe space for musicians?
As the UK government holds an inquiry into misogyny in music, the Musicians’ Union calls for further action to safeguard female players.
Premium ❘ Article
December 2022: Editor’s welcome and contents
The Strad’s editor Emma Baker introduces the December 2022 issue
‘A perfect piece of music’: Cellist Hannah Roberts performs Elgar
The cellist performs the third movement from Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Manchester Camerata and Gábor Takács-Nagy
‘A perfect piece of music’: Cellist Hannah Roberts performs Elgar
Future of pernambuco under discussion at CITES convention
Vadym Makarenko and Infermi d’Amore perform a reconstructed Vivaldi concerto
The Riot Ensemble performs ‘drop after drop’ by Maxim Shalygin
Watch: the Brandenburg Concertos from the Edinburgh International Festival
‘The Makers’: a video series of luthier interviews
Sojourner Truth: a piece for violin and piano
Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho Suite for Strings
18-year-old Maxim Vengerov plays Tchaikovsky
Sphinx Organization cellists perform Bachianas Brasileiras no.5
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- Next
Future of pernambuco decided at CITES convention
The Brazilian wood will remain on Appendix II with modified wording, rather than being moved up to Appendix I
The most important violin in the world? - The 1716 ‘Messiah’ Stradivari violin
Stradivari’s 1716 ‘Messiah’ violin has beguiled with its pristine condition for 300 years, despite having remained mute for most of that time. John Dilworth examines the mystique surrounding this enigmatic instrument that still refuses to give up its secrets
CT-Scanning the ‘Messiah’ Stradivari violin
In 2016 the ‘Messiah’ Stradivari was the subject of an extensive CT scanning project. Francesco Piasentini and Gregg Alf examine the resulting data, discovering repair work in the neck, and attempt to determine how it had originally been set
Do instruments made by the same maker have a distinct sound character?
Violin maker Jacob von der Lippe explores this question, via a recording of works performed by various musicians on his instruments
In Focus: A 1756 baroque cello by Robert Duncan
David Rattray on the Scottish maker’s mid-18th-century baroque cello
The Strad Calendar 2023: c.1610 Maggini viola
This large and beautiful-sounding viola features a one-piece spruce front with unusually wide grain
Future of pernambuco decided at CITES convention
The Brazilian wood will remain on Appendix II with modified wording, rather than being moved up to Appendix I
The most important violin in the world? - The 1716 ‘Messiah’ Stradivari violin
Stradivari’s 1716 ‘Messiah’ violin has beguiled with its pristine condition for 300 years, despite having remained mute for most of that time. John Dilworth examines the mystique surrounding this enigmatic instrument that still refuses to give up its secrets
CT-Scanning the ‘Messiah’ Stradivari violin
In 2016 the ‘Messiah’ Stradivari was the subject of an extensive CT scanning project. Francesco Piasentini and Gregg Alf examine the resulting data, discovering repair work in the neck, and attempt to determine how it had originally been set
Do instruments made by the same maker have a distinct sound character?
Violin maker Jacob von der Lippe explores this question, via a recording of works performed by various musicians on his instruments
In Focus: A 1756 baroque cello by Robert Duncan
David Rattray on the Scottish maker’s mid-18th-century baroque cello
The Strad Calendar 2023: c.1610 Maggini viola
This large and beautiful-sounding viola features a one-piece spruce front with unusually wide grain
Concert review: Momenta Quartet
Bruce Hodges attends New York’s Broadway Presbyterian Church on 16 September 2022 for a performance of works by Julián Carrillo
Concert review: Parlando
Leah Hollingsworth attends New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, Kaufman Music Center, on 22 September 2022 for the performance of Reena Esmail, Debussy and Beethoven
Concert review: Lara St John (violin)
Leah Hollingsworth hears an eclectic performance at New York’s Crypt at the Church of the Intercession on 29 September 2022
Portrait: Alex Baranowski, La Pietà/Angèle Dubeau (violin)
A programme best taken in small doses rather than swallowed whole
Zuill Bailey: Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
A brand-new cello concerto from a Pulitzer prize-winner
Villiers Quartet: Smyth, Delius
A Delius discovery is brought to life with compelling musicianship
Book review: The Creative Worlds of Joseph Joachim
Robin Stowell reviews a collection of papers on the 19th-century violin virtuoso, edited by Valerie Woodring Goertzen and Robert Whitehouse Eshbach
Book review: The Caldersmith Papers: Writings on Guitar and Violin Acoustics
Jim Woodhouse reviews a collection of papers by Australian luthier and researcher Graham Caldersmith, from the 1970s to 2000s
Book review: Got Beethoven: My First 40 Years with the Brodsky Quartet
Tully Potter reviews the second volume of memoirs by the Brodsky Quartet’s Paul Cassidy, in which he recalls his time with the foursome
Debate
Opinion: how chamber music develops communication and listening skills
Violist Rosalind Ventris shares her experience of the transformative power of playing chamber music
Opinion: How teachers can help students deal with feelings of futility and despair
Neesa Sunar explores how teachers can call on their own experience to help pupils struggling with feelings of sadness or futility
Debate
Opinion: how chamber music develops communication and listening skills
Violist Rosalind Ventris shares her experience of the transformative power of playing chamber music
Opinion: How teachers can help students deal with feelings of futility and despair
Neesa Sunar explores how teachers can call on their own experience to help pupils struggling with feelings of sadness or futility
Accessories
Players’ string choices: Strings of the stars
How does string selection affect a performer’s sound? Leading artists who’ve recently appeared in The Strad’s pages or online discuss the strings they use and why
Products December 2022: The Blocketto bridge stabiliser
A device built to prevent bridge movement and damage
Products December 2022: Madder lake pigments
Four new madder lake pigments from Kremer Pigmente
Concert review: Momenta Quartet
Bruce Hodges attends New York’s Broadway Presbyterian Church on 16 September 2022 for a performance of works by Julián Carrillo
Concert review: Parlando
Leah Hollingsworth attends New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, Kaufman Music Center, on 22 September 2022 for the performance of Reena Esmail, Debussy and Beethoven
Concert review: Lara St John (violin)
Leah Hollingsworth hears an eclectic performance at New York’s Crypt at the Church of the Intercession on 29 September 2022
Book review: The Creative Worlds of Joseph Joachim
Robin Stowell reviews a collection of papers on the 19th-century violin virtuoso, edited by Valerie Woodring Goertzen and Robert Whitehouse Eshbach
Book review: The Caldersmith Papers: Writings on Guitar and Violin Acoustics
Jim Woodhouse reviews a collection of papers by Australian luthier and researcher Graham Caldersmith, from the 1970s to 2000s
Book review: Got Beethoven: My First 40 Years with the Brodsky Quartet
Tully Potter reviews the second volume of memoirs by the Brodsky Quartet’s Paul Cassidy, in which he recalls his time with the foursome
Portrait: Alex Baranowski, La Pietà/Angèle Dubeau (violin)
A programme best taken in small doses rather than swallowed whole
Zuill Bailey: Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
A brand-new cello concerto from a Pulitzer prize-winner
Villiers Quartet: Smyth, Delius
A Delius discovery is brought to life with compelling musicianship
Artists
Violist Antoine Tamestit wins Hindemith Prize
The French musician receives a cash prize of €10,000 from the city of Hanau, Germany
‘A dream come true’: TwoSet Violin’s ‘4 Mil Subs’ Concert
Cecilia Tan reports back from the duo’s record-breaking performance with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra on 16 November 2022, witnessing the pair’s debut with two 1708 Stradivari violins
Pavel Šporcl: The man with the blue violin
Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl speaks to Amanda Holloway about his varied career and his unusual violin
Education Resources
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