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- Janine Jansen talks about playing 12 Stradivaris and we investigate the varnishes of the old Italians.
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Sentimental Work: Salvatore Accardo on the Beethoven Violin Concerto
The Italian violinist recalls how the great soloists of the 20th century had similar feelings about the Beethoven Violin Concerto – and why it left them terrified
Beethoven from a string player’s perspective
Top string players share their thoughts on Beethoven’s string repertoire. Spoiler: it’s not always smooth sailing
Podcasts
The Strad Podcast Episode #16: Ayanna Witter-Johnson on playing and singing
Cellist and vocalist Ayanna Witter-Johnson speaks about her unique combination of performance styles
The Strad Podcast Episode #15: Jack Liebeck on Ysaÿe Sonatas
‘It feels incredible to play this music… it fits the violinist’s hand like a glove’
The Strad Podcast Episode #14: Nicolas Altstaedt on the Lutosławski Cello Concerto
’I always tell my agents ”Put Lutosławski on the top of the list”, it’s really maybe my number one favourite of all concertos!’
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Editor's pick
Janine Jansen: Twelve chosen Stradivaris
Our October 2021 issue features violinist Janine Jansen’s journey to record an album and documentary on twelve different Stradivari violins. Read about the violins that were chosen for the project
Current online issue
October
‘I felt like I was connected to those legends of the past. I was bringing alive the same voice. It was overwhelming’
Dutch violinist Janine Jansen performs on twelve of the world's finest Stradivaris for a new recording and documentary.
‘Jackie could say, without inhibition, that she mostly preferred her own recordings – she was not alone in that’
Film maker Christopher Nupen recalls his time with cellist Jacqueline du Pré.
The first results of a project to find the composition of varnishes from historical instruments
''Our playing resembles speech, like spoken dialogue'' Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Sol Gabetta on their album of duo works for violin and cello.
' 'What works slowly might work fast, but what doesn't work slowly won't work at all' Julia Fischer's Beethoven Violin Concerto Masterclass
Stradivari varnish: Scarlet fever
How did Antonio Stradivari achieve the special deep red varnish colour that makes his later instruments so attractive? Joe Robson believes he has discovered both the composition and method for making it – and cracked one of the most enduring mysteries of the master maker. From the September 2018 issue
Long read: Remembering Jacqueline du Pré
Friends, fellow musicians and ex-pupils pay tribute to superstar cellist Jacqueline de Pré in February 1988, four months after she succumbed to multiple sclerosis
The geometry of violin outlines: Proportional representation
In this article from March 1990, Leslie Wyatt offers a rational and coherent geometrical method for the construction of an inner form outline and for sizing and positioning the f-holes, to break free from the traditional slavish reproduction of classical instruments
Free in Spirit
January 2018 marked the 70th birthday of cellist Mischa Maisky, who celebrated by whizzing round the world in solo and chamber performances with his Maisky Trio, featuring daughter Lily and son Sascha.Peter Quantrill caught up with him in London, Istanbul and Verbier
Analysis October 2021: Progress report
Despite the UK government’s announcements of major advances in negotiations, the impact of Brexit continues to be a cause for concern among British musicians and organisations. By Harry White
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2021
This month’s competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
October 2021: Welcome
The Strad’s editor Charlotte Smith introduces the October 2021 issue
Soundpost: Letters to the Editor October 2021
A selection of letters The Strad receives each month from its readers around the world: October 2021 issue
Quatuor Ebène, Antoine Tamestit and Nicolas Altstaedt record ‘Night Bridge’
It’s always nice to see musicians having fun in the recording studio
Quatuor Ebène, Antoine Tamestit and Nicolas Altstaedt record ‘Night Bridge’
Sound and sculptures: Amit Peled, Ismael Guerrero and Zemer Peled
Interview: Being a self-taught violinist in Kenya
Jacqueline du Pré and Daniel Barenboim prepare for a recording
Emmanuelle Bertrand and Pascal Amoyel perform Brahms Cello Sonata no.1
Jacqueline du Pré performs the Elgar Cello Concerto
Diversity in Artistic Endeavours: Violinist Esther Yoo speaks with Yekwon Sunwoo
Hilary Hahn performs Brahms Violin Concerto
James Buswell, Leslie Parnas and Horacio Gutiérrez perform Brahms Piano Trio no.1
The Trout, 1969 with Jacqueline Du Pré, Itzhak Perlman, Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta & Pinchas Zukerman
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Seeing red: Stradivari’s special instrument varnish
In this extract from September 2018, Joe Robson examines the history and prestige surrounding the colour red and how it began to feature in Stradivari’s instrument varnish
The Strad Calendar 2022: Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume viola 1867
This viola is regarded as an exceptionally pure and unique specimen among Vuillaume’s work
The components of violin varnish
In this extract from November 2007, Joe Robson explores the history and methods of making violin varnish
The Strad Calendar 2022: Santo Serafin violin 1750
Santo Serafin’s refined style can be particularly seen on the scroll
Discovering the composition of historical varnishes
In this extract from the October 2021 issue, Balthazar Soulier, Stefan Zumbühl and Christophe Zindel introduce their study of minerals historical varnishes
The Strad Calendar 2022: Hendrik Jacobs cello 1696
One of the very few cellos made by Hendrik Jacobs himself, and the only Dutch instrument in the Calendar
Masterclass
Masterclass: Julia Fischer on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Third Movement
Conversations between instruments, harmony and articulation all form part of Julia Fischer’s discussion of this joyous third movement
Masterclass: Natalie Clein on Haydn Cello Concerto in D major
The cellist discusses the improvisational freedom, humour and joy that are central to her own interpretation of the first movement of this popular audition piece
Live-streamed concert review: KAIA Quartet
Bruce Hodges attends the show at Depaul Art Museum, Chicago, IL, US, on 24 July 2021, from the comfort of his own computer
Live-streamed concert review: Jack Liebeck (violin) Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello) Julian Bliss (clarinet) Katya Apekisheva (piano) Voces8
Tim Homfray watches the recital at the Voces8 Centre (St Anne and St Agnes Church) in London, UK, on 17 July 2021
Live-streamed concert review: Claudio Bohórquez (cello) Christoph Eschenbach (piano)
Peter Quantrill tunes into the show from Teldex Studios, Berlin, Germany, on 16 June 2021
Concert review: Nicola Benedetti (violin) Aurora Orchestra/Nicholas Collon
Peer Quantrill hears the performance at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 4 July 2021
Concert review: Johan Dalene (violin) Julien Quentin (piano)
Charlotte Gardner visits the Verbier Festival in Switzerland to hear the performance at Verbier Church on 18 July 2021
Concert review: The Knights
Bruce Hodges hears the recital at Bryant Park, New York, NY, US, on 23 July 2021
Debate
Opinion: Across the decades
Karen Gomyo revisits recordings by ‘golden age’ violinists, and explores why these performances are still so meaningful today
Opinion: Make ’em laugh
Humour can be a useful tool when teaching – especially online, argues Naomi Yandell
Accessories
Products October 2021: D’Addario viola micro tuner
D’Addario’s micro tuner, originally designed to clip on to a violin, is now available with a viola mount.
Products October 2021: CAD Audio USB microphone kit
A USB studio kit from CAD Audio
Products October 2021: Gewa Air Luthier case
Gewa’s new case puts instrument makers’ feedback into practice
Artists
Antoine Tamestit on the ‘Mahler’ Stradivari viola
In this extract from the July 2019 issue, the violist describes at first struggling to get on with this magnificent and unusual instrument
Violinist Shlomo Mintz performs Paganini Caprice no.5
Check out this fiery throwback performance of the violinist from 1981
From the Archive: Why do so many musicians have long hair?
Whether as a mark of distinction or genius, the trend is embodied by Eugène Ysaÿe, according to The Strad's June 1897 issue
Education Resources
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