Featured Stories – Page 2
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Premium ❘ Focus'When Mandela asked how I was, I admitted I was nervous' - Maria Kliegel on Hommage à Nelson M.: Sentimental Work
The German cellist recalls the creation of Hommage à Nelson M., inspired by the life of Nelson Mandela – and the long road to performing it in front of the man himself
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Focus
How can violinists create a personal sound?
Once upon a time, violinists just wanted to get as close to Heifetz's sound as they possibly could. But now that golden standard no longer applies, Jessica Duchen asks, how do the stars of today mark themselves out as special?
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Blogs
’After breaking the speed limit a few times, we eventually arrived hot, sweaty and stressed’ - more wedding gig disaster stories
At the time of year when many string players are spending their weekends performing at weddings, we share the best wedding gig disaster stories from The Strad’s readers and followers
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Article
Cellist Steven Isserlis on using vibrato to improve phrasing
Steven Isserlis gives a cello masterclass on Schumann's Fantasiestücke op.73, recorded at the International Musicians' Seminar, Prussia Cove. The student is Ani Kalayjian
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Focus
10 things you need to know about vibrato
The following quotes, taken from the pages of The Strad over the past 100 years, offer a fascinating glimpse of the changing attitudes and approaches towards this most subjective and controversial area of a string player's technique
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‘It’s not about you; it’s about the music’: Helena Rathbone’s life lessons
The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s British principal violinist considers the pivotal role of chamber music throughout her career
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Article
Cellist David Finckel on vibrato
Cellist David Finckel introduces the subject of vibrato as part of a series of video demonstrations on cello technique. Vibrato, he says, 'connects the listener to the player's innermost feelings about the music. It should be something that reinforces the music, not something that is painted on top ...
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Premium ❘ Feature
Musicians and exercise: Can a keep fit regime make you a better string player?
Violinist, researcher and consultant Berenice Beverley Zammit explains how physical exercise and simulation of the live concert environment can help string players and other musicians perform more efficiently under pressure
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Article
Violinist Ray Chen gives left-hand pizzicato lesson
Violinist Ray Chen gives a video lesson on mastering left-hand pizzicato, as demonstrated in Paganini's Caprice no.24.
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Premium ❘ Feature
Former Kronos Quartet cellist Joan Jeanrenaud on pizzicato techniques
Pizzicato style is rarely analysed, but is so vital in modern repertory says the artist, who performed with the contemporary quartet for 20 years
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Blogs
9 tips on playing the Ravel and Debussy quartets
Franck Chevalier, viola player of the Quatuor Diotima, gives advice on how to approach the most celebrated French additions to the quartet repertoire
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Contending for the crown: Postcard from the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition
At the second-ever cello edition of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, twelve world-class cellists competed for the top prize in gruelling finals attended by the Belgian queen herself. Pauline Harding reports
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Premium ❘ Feature
‘Maybe the things we worry about are not the ones that matter to the music’ - Pekka Kuusisto: The Master Storyteller
Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is characterised by his unique powers of communication as well as his sense of fun. He speaks to Andrew Mellor about how his burgeoning complementary career as a conductor is opening up new musical perspectives for him
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Premium ❘ Article
‘The simple truth is that Nigel was a one-of-a-kind violinist’: Letters to the editor August 2022
A selection of letters The Strad receives each month from its readers around the world: August 2022 issue
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‘Their ensemble is so perfect that no disparity of style is observable’: From the archive: August 1912
Jelly d’Arányi (1893–1966) would become one of the 20th century’s top soloists. The Strad reports on the 19-year-old’s early career, which began as a duo with her sister Adila (1886–1962)
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Sentimental Work: Kenneth Sillito
Performing Benjamin Britten’s 1931 String Quartet in D major for the composer was an eye-opening experience for the former leader of the Gabrieli Quartet
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Blogs
‘I love that I’ve been able to explore my heritage in this way’: Cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson
The multi-faceted cellist and composer shares how her Jamaican heritage influenced her piece Island Suite, commissioned by the Solem Quartet
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Lost arts of string playing: Unlocking the secrets of the past
Did the great string players of old know something that we didn’t? Some of today’s virtuosos reveal to Charlotte Gardner the various technical and musical tools of the trade that are in danger of being lost in the current pursuit of perfection
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Blogs
Five players, five insights on solo Bach
Our July 2021 issue features analysis of Bach’s solo violin sonatas - have a read of what these top five string players have to say about solo Bach
