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Barcelona orchestra commemorates Casals anniversary with London debut
Masterclass: Hoffmeister’s Violone Concerto no.1 in E flat major
Concert review: Peter Winograd, Janet Ying (violins) Rebecca Albers, Phillip Ying, Dimitri Murrath (violas) Steven Doane (cello) Pei-Shan Lee (piano)
Fine Arts Quartet: Enescu Early Chamber Music
Concert review: Peter Winograd, Janet Ying (violins) Rebecca Albers, Phillip Ying, Dimitri Murrath (violas) Steven Doane (cello) Pei-Shan Lee (piano)
Fine Arts Quartet: Enescu Early Chamber Music
‘Intimidating, terrifying, brutal’: the Smith Quartet on conquering Beethoven’s notoriously difficult Grosse Fuge
Violinist Felix Ayo has died
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ Antonio Stradivari violin
Technique: Moving from violin to viola
Australian violist Stephen King outlines tips for making the switch
La Vaghezza performs work by forgotten composer Salomone Rossi
The Italian ensemble shines a light on a Jewish composer and violinist, who has been somewhat lost in history
The Strad at Cremona Musica 2023 - thank you!
It was great to meet so many of our readers and followers face to face during our annual pilgrimage to Italy - take a look at your favourite products from the weekend
Playing Hub
Words of Wisdom: violinist Margaret Batjer
The concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and pedagogue shared her musical insights in our March 2014 issue
Seven)Suns: how we play metal on stringed instruments
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
Postcard from Germany: Kissinger Sommer festival
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
String quartets must offer an artistic voice to the music industry: Didier Schnorhk, Concours de Genève
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
‘We want to learn everything’ - Leonkoro Quartet
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
‘A partnership between the violinist and the orchestra’ - Nathan Meltzer on the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Ahead of a performance with the Orpheus Sinfonia on Thursday 14 September, the violinist shares his memories and thoughts on the monumental concerto
Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Moving from violin to viola
Australian violist Stephen King outlines tips for making the switch
Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo
Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument
Premium ❘ Feature
Technique: Moving from violin to viola
Australian violist Stephen King outlines tips for making the switch
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental Work: Sergej Krylov on Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1
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
Premium ❘ Focus
Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing
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
Cellist Steven Isserlis wins 2023 Cremona Musica Award
The British musician was honoured for his ‘unceasing dedication to the art of music’
No first prize awarded at Szymanowski string quartet competition
A surprise result at the finals held on 21 September
Concours de Genève 2023 announces semi-finalists
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](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/460x307/3/9/6/31396_1luizfernandoventurellipctoddrosenberg_216891.jpg)
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: October 2023
This month’s competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Elena Kats-Chernin on her new double concerto
The Sarenka Concerto is in memory of an extraordinary woman
Masterclass: Hoffmeister’s Violone Concerto no.1 in E flat major
Double bassist Edicson Ruiz provides help on Hoffmeister’s concerto with Viennese tuning
Masterclass: Koussevitzky Double Bass Concerto, first movement
Double bass soloist Leon Bosch uncovers the challenges and opportunities of this emotionally powerful piece
Masterclass: Hoffmeister’s Violone Concerto no.1 in E flat major
Double bassist Edicson Ruiz provides help on Hoffmeister’s concerto with Viennese tuning
Masterclass: Koussevitzky Double Bass Concerto, first movement
Double bass soloist Leon Bosch uncovers the challenges and opportunities of this emotionally powerful piece
Masterclass: Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto no.2 in G minor op.63
Violinist James Ehnes provides his insight into tackling the tricky technical demands of this lyrical masterpiece
The Strad Podcast #95: Historical instrument chat with violinist Rachel Podger
Rachel speaks about the tools of her trade in this episode of the ‘Podgecast’
The Strad Podcast #94: a theatrical Verklärte Nacht with cellist Matthew Barley
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
The Strad Podcast #93: creative storytelling with cellist Alexander Hersh
The star of ‘Absinthe’ shares how narrative and multiple access points can benefit classical music in reaching new audiences
The Strad Podcast #92: remembering violinist Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet
The ensemble’s founding violist Lesley Robertson shares her memories of the violinist
The Strad Podcast #95: Historical instrument chat with violinist Rachel Podger
Rachel speaks about the tools of her trade in this episode of the ‘Podgecast’
The Strad Podcast #94: a theatrical Verklärte Nacht with cellist Matthew Barley
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
The Strad Podcast #93: creative storytelling with cellist Alexander Hersh
The star of ‘Absinthe’ shares how narrative and multiple access points can benefit classical music in reaching new audiences
Competitons
Cellist Steven Isserlis wins 2023 Cremona Musica Award
The British musician was honoured for his ‘unceasing dedication to the art of music’
No first prize awarded at Szymanowski string quartet competition
A surprise result at the finals held on 21 September
Concours de Genève 2023 announces semi-finalists
Eight flautists and six string quartets have been selected for the semi-final rounds of the 77th Concours de Genève
La Vaghezza performs work by forgotten composer Salomone Rossi
The Italian ensemble shines a light on a Jewish composer and violinist, who has been somewhat lost in history
La Vaghezza performs work by forgotten composer Salomone Rossi
A prize-winning Tzigane from violinist Matthew Hakkarainen
Academy of Ancient Music celebrates 50th anniversary
Baroque ensemble Camerata Øresund performs music by Campra
The Ssens Trio celebrates its tenth anniversary with Goldberg Variations video project
New video: Movement & Location by Sybarite5
Harp harmonics: Jacob Warren plays the double bass like a harp
Stradivarius and Beyond: The Italian Violin Maker Lorenzo Storioni
Watch now: Orchestra of the Swan’s ‘Echoes’
Video premiere: Cellist Alexander Hersh in ‘Absinthe’
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The Strad Calendar 2024: 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ Antonio Stradivari violin
The favourite instrument of collector David L. Fulton, for whom its tone is ’silvery with lots of “sizzle”’
In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo
Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1698 ‘Shapiro’ Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin
The first fine instrument ever bought by collector David L. Fulton is a genuine rarity
Trade Secrets: Making a mould and templates from a poster
A quick, efficient and accurate way of cutting durable templates using one of The Strad’s publications
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection
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
Analysis October 2023: Climate change and tonewood
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?
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1715 ‘Baron Knoop’ Antonio Stradivari violin
The favourite instrument of collector David L. Fulton, for whom its tone is ’silvery with lots of “sizzle”’
In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo
Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument
The Strad Calendar 2024: 1698 ‘Shapiro’ Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin
The first fine instrument ever bought by collector David L. Fulton is a genuine rarity
Trade Secrets: Making a mould and templates from a poster
A quick, efficient and accurate way of cutting durable templates using one of The Strad’s publications
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection
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
Analysis October 2023: Climate change and tonewood
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?
Concert review: Peter Winograd, Janet Ying (violins) Rebecca Albers, Phillip Ying, Dimitri Murrath (violas) Steven Doane (cello) Pei-Shan Lee (piano)
Leah Hollingsworth watches a live stream from the Bowdoin International Music Festival on 5 July 2023
Concert review: Ying Quartet
Bruce Hodges watches the Bowdoin International Music Festival’s performance of Mozart, Kevin Puts and Dvořák at Studzinski Hall on 10 July 2023
Concert review: Thirteen North
David Kettle hears the performance from St Luke’s,. Glasgow, on 29 June 2023, featuring works by Bartók, Pippa Murphy and Pàdruig Morrison
Fine Arts Quartet: Enescu Early Chamber Music
A welcome chance to explore the early works of a Romanian master
A Violin’s Life, Vol. 3: Music for the ‘Lipiński’ Stradivari
An intriguing third volume in the company of a celebrated Strad
Ragazze Quartet, Garth Knox: Open Spaces
Idiomatic works from a master violist turned composer
Review: ABRSM Violin Exam Pieces from 2024
Alex Laing reviews the Associated Board’s new violin examination works, from Grades 1 to 8
Review: ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces from 2024
Janet Banks reviews the new syllabus for the Associated Board’s cello exams, from Grades 1 to 5
Book review: Chaconne Handbook I–II
Robin Stowell reviews Márta Ábrahám’s treatise on the famed Chaconne, another in her series of discussions of Bach masterpieces
Debate
Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing
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
Opinion: The importance (and difficulty) of playing softly
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
Opinion: Flexibility in orchestral playing
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
Opinion: The importance (and difficulty) of playing softly
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
Accessories
Products October 2023: Kun Seven shoulder rest
A shoulder rest made for maximum customisation
Products October 2023: StopLossBags
The bags hold a variety of liquids for violin making
Products October 2023: BAM Sky cello case
The case is the company’s lightest for cello
Concert review: Peter Winograd, Janet Ying (violins) Rebecca Albers, Phillip Ying, Dimitri Murrath (violas) Steven Doane (cello) Pei-Shan Lee (piano)
Leah Hollingsworth watches a live stream from the Bowdoin International Music Festival on 5 July 2023
Concert review: Ying Quartet
Bruce Hodges watches the Bowdoin International Music Festival’s performance of Mozart, Kevin Puts and Dvořák at Studzinski Hall on 10 July 2023
Concert review: Thirteen North
David Kettle hears the performance from St Luke’s,. Glasgow, on 29 June 2023, featuring works by Bartók, Pippa Murphy and Pàdruig Morrison
Review: ABRSM Violin Exam Pieces from 2024
Alex Laing reviews the Associated Board’s new violin examination works, from Grades 1 to 8
Review: ABRSM Cello Exam Pieces from 2024
Janet Banks reviews the new syllabus for the Associated Board’s cello exams, from Grades 1 to 5
Book review: Chaconne Handbook I–II
Robin Stowell reviews Márta Ábrahám’s treatise on the famed Chaconne, another in her series of discussions of Bach masterpieces
Fine Arts Quartet: Enescu Early Chamber Music
A welcome chance to explore the early works of a Romanian master
A Violin’s Life, Vol. 3: Music for the ‘Lipiński’ Stradivari
An intriguing third volume in the company of a celebrated Strad
Ragazze Quartet, Garth Knox: Open Spaces
Idiomatic works from a master violist turned composer
Artists
‘A partnership between the violinist and the orchestra’ - Nathan Meltzer on the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Ahead of a performance with the Orpheus Sinfonia on Thursday 14 September, the violinist shares his memories and thoughts on the monumental concerto
Session Report: Hilary Hahn on Ysaÿe’s Solo Violin Sonatas
When Hilary Hahn decided to record Ysaÿe’s Six Solo Violin Sonatas for their centenary year, all the stars seemed to align in terms of both timing and fresh musical insights, as she tells Charlotte Gardner
‘Combining both traditional and contemporary music is key’: cellist Amalie Stalheim
Collaborating with a composer and working on contemporary works feeds inspiration for traditional works, and vice versa, writes cellist Amalie Stalheim
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