All Featured Stories articles – Page 6
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News
The violin finals of the 2023 Long-Thibaud Competition: what we heard in the audience
Artist and writer Jonathon Brown attended the finals of the Long-Thibaud International Competition in Paris in November 2023 as a member of the press jury. He gives his impression of the five finalists’ varied and individual performances
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Inheriting others’ pupils: a fresh start
Taking on other people’s ex-pupils can be a tricky business – especially when they come with ingrained unhealthy habits. Focusing on upper strings, Alun Thomas outlines what may need to be addressed to make progress
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Life Lessons: Violinist Hilary Hahn
Adrenalin can be helpful, says the American violinist, but you should never forget the true reasons for performance
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Opinion: How improvisation can help with perfectionism
Having discovered a love of improvisation during the pandemic, cellist Simone Seales believes that the practice can free classically trained musicians from a typically unhealthy fear of imperfection
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Practice Diary: cellist Hannah Roberts
The British cellist chooses her warm-up keys carefully before tackling the trickiest passages of Dvořák’s Concerto – leaving the best bits till last
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News
‘Compares well to Paganini’s most difficult writing!’: Pieter Schoeman on Florence Price’s Violin Concerto no.2
Ahead of a performance on 29 November, the London Philharmonic Orchestra leader recalls the joys and challenges of a work he’d not heard until a few years ago, as well as tips and advice for those learning the piece
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Postcard from Switzerland: Verbier Festival
Charlotte Gardner headed to the Swiss Alps for the Verbier Festival’s 30th-anniversary season where she was doubly dazzled by the combination of star players and the quality of the music-making
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Double Acts: Annette and Steven Isserlis
They may tease each other terribly, but siblings Annette and Steven Isserlis still get a kick out of being on stage together
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Anne Akiko Meyers: What’s next?
US violinist Anne Akiko Meyers speaks to Rita Fernandes about her Californian roots, lifelong hunger for commissioning new works, and determination to make a lasting impact on the future of new music
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Masterclass: Torleif Thedéen on the Lalo Cello Concerto
Cellist Torleif Thedéen discusses how to give a rhythmic, characterful performance of the first movement of this often-neglected work
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‘Our viola group was special’ - Letters to the editor: December 2023
A selection of letters The Strad receives each month from its readers around the world: December 2023 issue
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Blogs
‘I love a good melody’: violinist and composer Libby Croad on accessibility to new music
A good melody may be the key to unlocking accessibility and overcoming pre-conceived ideas to contemporary music, says the violinist and composer, ahead of the Australian premiere of her work Suite for Strings on 18 November 2023
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Article
‘You get your favourites as a composer’ - Brett Dean on his Ivors-nominated Cello Concerto
Australian composer Brett Dean speaks to The Strad about his 2018 Cello Concerto ahead of The Ivors Classical Awards, where it has been nominated for best orchestral composition
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Blogs
‘A piece that challenges, inspires and rewards’: Nemanja Radulović on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto
The violinist shares his personal history and thoughts on the work following his most recent recording for Warner Classics
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‘Vast quantities of music flung at them’ - From the Archive: November 1923
Composer A.M. Gifford presents a compelling argument for musicians to be more adventurous in their programming
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Blogs
‘We just love what we do’: 21 years of the Sacconi Quartet
Comprising violinists Ben Hancox and Hannah Dawson, violist Robin Ashwell and cellist Cara Berridge, the members of the Sacconi Quartet chat with The Strad about their guiding principles throughout their shared history together, as well as as some memorable performances
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Blogs
‘Tuning 22 strings can take a while!’ Suntou Susso on the kora
Ahead of a performance at Kings Place on 23 November, Suntou Susso gives an introduction to this West African plucked stringed instrument
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Blogs
Eight tips for unlocking your inner Romantic: cellist David Eggert
Eggert’s project ’Down with Romanticism’ aims to illustrate the forgotten dimensions of playing19th-century music. Here, he challenges musicians to consider historical music through the lens of Romantic-style playing
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Opinion: The benefits of rest for students
Cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell is often pleasantly surprised at how much progress can be made by students during a break from lessons