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margaret batjer cr michael burke

Words of Wisdom: violinist Margaret Batjer

2023-09-20T08:45:00+01:00

The concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and pedagogue shared her musical insights in our March 2014 issue

Seven)Suns 4656 by John DeVore

Seven)Suns: how we play metal on stringed instruments

2023-09-18T08:57:00+01:00

The members of Seven)Suns share how to transcribe hardcore metal to string quartet, as well as how to preserve their stamina and physical condition while playing works from their upcoming album

Schmuckhof_c_Ninja Anderlohr-Hepp

Postcard from Germany: Kissinger Sommer festival

2023-09-18T08:46:00+01:00

A stay in northern Bavaria’s spa town of Bad Kissingen for the Kissinger Sommer festival proved to be a balm for the soul for Laurence Vittes

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String quartets must offer an artistic voice to the music industry: Didier Schnorhk, Concours de Genève

2023-09-15T11:02:00+01:00

Ahead of the Concours de Genève’s string quartet online rounds next week, secretary general Schnorhk shares how the competition offers emerging ensembles a stepping stone to their intended career

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‘We want to learn everything’ - Leonkoro Quartet

2023-09-14T08:31:00+01:00

Formed in 2019, the Leonkoro Quartet burst on to the scene with a string of competition wins and now a debut album. The foursome speak to Peter Somerford about what it takes to succeed as a young string quartet today

Nathan Meltzer

‘A partnership between the violinist and the orchestra’ - Nathan Meltzer on the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

2023-09-13T10:00:00+01:00

Ahead of a performance with the Orpheus Sinfonia on Thursday 14 September, the violinist shares his memories and thoughts on the monumental concerto

Stephen King Australian String  Quartet 2019. Photo by Jacqui  Way

Premium ❘ Feature

Technique: Moving from violin to viola

2023-09-26T08:32:00+01:00

Australian violist Stephen King outlines tips for making the switch

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Premium ❘ Feature

In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo

2023-09-22T07:32:00+01:00

Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument

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Premium ❘ Focus

Sentimental Work: Sergej Krylov on Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1

2023-09-13T08:45:51.353+01:00

Mstislav Rostropovich had some resonant words of wisdom for the Soviet-born Italian violinist when they worked together on Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1

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Premium ❘ Focus

Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing

2023-09-13T08:45:00+01:00

Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that an orchestra’s greatest asset is not power or accuracy; rather the ability to adapt seamlessly to every style of music and manner of conductor

Competitions

isserlis

Cellist Steven Isserlis wins 2023 Cremona Musica Award

2023-09-25T08:50:00+01:00

The British musician was honoured for his ‘unceasing dedication to the art of music’

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No first prize awarded at Szymanowski string quartet competition

2023-09-23T10:47:00+01:00

A surprise result at the finals held on 21 September

String Quartet_Semifinalists_Color

Concours de Genève 2023 announces semi-finalists

2023-09-21T10:20:00+01:00

Eight flautists and six string quartets have been selected for the semi-final rounds of the 77th Concours de Genève

[1] Luiz Fernando Venturelli pc © Todd Rosenberg

Premium ❘ News

Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2023

2023-09-13T08:44:43.88+01:00

This month’s competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

Elena pc BruriaHammer

Premium ❘ News

Premiere of the Month: Elena Kats-Chernin on her new double concerto

2023-09-13T08:44:00+01:00

The Sarenka Concerto is in memory of an extraordinary woman

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The Strad Podcast #95: Historical instrument chat with violinist Rachel Podger

2023-09-21T08:36:00+01:00

Rachel speaks about the tools of her trade in this episode of the ‘Podgecast’

Matthew Barley, cello

The Strad Podcast #94: a theatrical Verklärte Nacht with cellist Matthew Barley

2023-09-14T08:34:00+01:00

The cellist speaks about creating a theatrical experience with a multitude of access points for new and existing audiences to Schoenberg’s piece and other related works

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The Strad Podcast #93: creative storytelling with cellist Alexander Hersh

2023-09-07T08:31:00+01:00

The star of ‘Absinthe’ shares how narrative and multiple access points can benefit classical music in reaching new audiences

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The Strad Podcast #92: remembering violinist Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet

2023-08-31T08:44:00+01:00

The ensemble’s founding violist Lesley Robertson shares her memories of the violinist

Competitons

isserlis

Cellist Steven Isserlis wins 2023 Cremona Musica Award

2023-09-25T08:50:00+01:00

The British musician was honoured for his ‘unceasing dedication to the art of music’

380889829_805943654867664_2130252802721318926_n

No first prize awarded at Szymanowski string quartet competition

2023-09-23T10:47:00+01:00

A surprise result at the finals held on 21 September

String Quartet_Semifinalists_Color

Concours de Genève 2023 announces semi-finalists

2023-09-21T10:20:00+01:00

Eight flautists and six string quartets have been selected for the semi-final rounds of the 77th Concours de Genève

More from Lutherie

Baron Knoop violin

The Strad Calendar 2024: 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ Antonio Stradivari violin

2023-09-26T09:07:00+01:00By

The favourite instrument of collector David L. Fulton, for whom its tone is ’silvery with lots of “sizzle”’

Front full

In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo

2023-09-22T07:32:00+01:00

Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument

Pietro Guarneri Mantua violin

The Strad Calendar 2024: 1698 ‘Shapiro’ Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin

2023-09-19T09:41:00+01:00By

The first fine instrument ever bought by collector David L. Fulton is a genuine rarity

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Trade Secrets: Making a mould and templates from a poster

2023-09-19T08:32:00+01:00

A quick, efficient and accurate way of cutting durable templates using one of The Strad’s publications

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The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection

2023-09-19T08:31:00+01:00

The Strad Calendar 2024 pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s finest stringed instrument collections, put together in just a couple of decades by American violin collector David L. Fulton. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures

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Analysis October 2023: Climate change and tonewood

2023-09-15T08:31:00+01:00

The past summer has seen catastrophic heatwaves strike almost all of Europe. What effect have they had on the forests of spruce and maple that tonewood dealers depend on?

phil ying

Concert review: Peter Winograd, Janet Ying (violins) Rebecca Albers, Phillip Ying, Dimitri Murrath (violas) Steven Doane (cello) Pei-Shan Lee (piano)

2023-09-27T08:31:00+01:00By Leah Hollingsworth

Leah Hollingsworth watches a live stream from the Bowdoin International Music Festival on 5 July 2023

ying quartet

Concert review: Ying Quartet

2023-09-26T08:31:00+01:00By Bruce Hodges

Bruce Hodges watches the Bowdoin International Music Festival’s performance of Mozart, Kevin Puts and Dvořák at Studzinski Hall on 10 July 2023

13 North

Concert review: Thirteen North

2023-09-25T08:44:00+01:00By David Kettle

David Kettle hears the performance from St Luke’s,. Glasgow, on 29 June 2023, featuring works by Bartók, Pippa Murphy and Pàdruig Morrison

Enescu Fine Arts Qt

Fine Arts Quartet: Enescu Early Chamber Music

2023-09-27T08:30:00+01:00By Joanne Talbot

A welcome chance to explore the early works of a Romanian master

A Violins Life vol 3

A Violin’s Life, Vol. 3: Music for the ‘Lipiński’ Stradivari

2023-09-26T08:30:00+01:00By Tully Potter

An intriguing third volume in the company of a celebrated Strad

Open Spaces

Ragazze Quartet, Garth Knox: Open Spaces

2023-09-25T08:41:00+01:00By

Idiomatic works from a master violist turned composer

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Review: ABRSM Violin Exam Pieces from 2024

2023-09-13T08:43:45.9+01:00By Alex Laing

Alex Laing reviews the Associated Board’s new violin examination works, from Grades 1 to 8

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Review: ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces from 2024

2023-09-13T08:43:42.07+01:00By Janet Banks

Janet Banks reviews the new syllabus for the Associated Board’s cello exams, from Grades 1 to 5

Bach Chaconne

Book review: Chaconne Handbook I–II

2023-09-12T08:30:00+01:00By Robin Stowell

Robin Stowell reviews Márta Ábrahám’s treatise on the famed Chaconne, another in her series of discussions of Bach masterpieces

Debate

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Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing

2023-09-13T08:45:00+01:00

Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that an orchestra’s greatest asset is not power or accuracy; rather the ability to adapt seamlessly to every style of music and manner of conductor

GettyImages-170005609

Opinion: The importance (and difficulty) of playing softly

2023-08-16T08:44:00+01:00

As string players, we are often encouraged to make a big sound, but cellist Davina Shum believes that the art of playing quietly is an underrated one

Debate

GettyImages-87462458

Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing

2023-09-13T08:45:00+01:00

Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that an orchestra’s greatest asset is not power or accuracy; rather the ability to adapt seamlessly to every style of music and manner of conductor

GettyImages-170005609

Opinion: The importance (and difficulty) of playing softly

2023-08-16T08:44:00+01:00

As string players, we are often encouraged to make a big sound, but cellist Davina Shum believes that the art of playing quietly is an underrated one

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