All Features articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureAmaryllis Fleming: A life less ordinary
To mark a hundred years since the birth of Amaryllis Fleming in December 1925, Oskar Falta takes a look at the British cellist’s colourful life and influential career, and hears from one of her pupils – Raphael Wallfisch
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe mindful hands: creative health for musicians
Pedro de Alcantara considers a playful yet philosophical approach to boosting health for the curious musician, and suggests some novel arm, wrist, hand and finger exercises for string players
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Cellist Gautier Capuçon on recording new album ‘Gaïa’
Cellist Gautier Capuçon tells Charlotte Gardner about his new album, Gaïa, which features a climate change-inspired programme showcasing 17 new works by 16 composers
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Premium ❘ FeatureForms follow function: early Stradivari violin patterns
Unlike his contemporaries, Antonio Stradivari was trying out different violin patterns from the start of his career as a luthier. Philip Ihle examines a number of his early violins to discover how his art evolved
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Premium ❘ FeatureA youthful spirit: violinist Johan Dalene
The young Swedish violin virtuoso Johan Dalene speaks to Jessica Duchen about his evolution as a musician, his passion for contemporary music and his latest album that pairs the Bruch and Mendelssohn concertos
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Premium ❘ FeatureLetters from America: 130 years of Hindemith
To mark the 130th anniversary of Paul Hindemith’s birth, Carlos María Solare delves into the composer and violist’s US years and hears from three leading soloists about what his music means to them
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Premium ❘ FeatureSing the body electric: early amplified instruments
The 1920s saw a demand for louder, more resonant instruments, and resourceful violin makers rose to the challenge. Clifford Hall looks at some of the innovative solutions they came up with
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: violinist Chloë Hanslip on recording the Bennett and Duke violin concertos
Violinist Chloë Hanslip chats to Harry White about giving voice to two neglected concertos by 20th-century Broadway composers who were compatriots of George Gershwin
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Calidore Quartet: scaling the summit
Having completed the epic task of recording all of Beethoven’s string quartets, the members of the Calidore Quartet speak to Thomas May about their 15‑year journey from Colburn classmates to international acclaim
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe greatest storyteller: Itzhak Perlman at 80
As he turns 80, the legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman speaks to Ariane Todes about everything from his stellar career to his teaching ethos, and his approach to social media stardom
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Premium ❘ FeatureHeroes of the Jazz Age: American bows in 1925
For many reasons, the 1920s saw the first great boom in American bow making. Raphael Gold tells the stories of some of the original US bow makers and examines examples of their work
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Premium ❘ FeatureBiber’s Mystery Sonatas: a riddle inside an enigma
Biber’s Mystery Sonatas continue to inspire and fascinate modern violinists, particularly for their unique use of scordatura. Elena Chernova‑Davis examines these cryptic 17th‑century masterpieces
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: violinist Roman Simovic on recording Ysaÿe’s solo sonatas
Violinist Roman Simovic speaks to Jessica Duchen about recording Ysaÿe’s six solo sonatas, and how he keeps his personal sound in works so strongly influenced by their famous dedicatees
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Strad Calendar 2026: Treasures of Canada
The Strad Calendar for 2026 shines the spotlight on twelve instruments owned by Canimex, one of Canada’s leading supporters of the arts. Christian Lloyd surveys the riches
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Premium ❘ FeatureTieffenbrucker family: secret history
Stefano Pio delves into 16th-century records to discover how the Tieffenbrucker family of makers contributed to the international success of Italian lutherie – including one of the best-known names of the era
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Premium ❘ FeatureAlisa Weilerstein: fragments of the future
The US cellist Alisa Weilerstein talks to Peter Quantrill about reinventing the solo recital for a multimedia age, and working with living composers to renew the concerto repertoire
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Carnatic violin: a voice of fluid grace
Brought to India in the late 18th century, the violin now plays a central role in South Indian classical music. Nikhil Bhambri presents an introduction to its use in Carnatic concerts, and hears from some of its leading exponents
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Premium ❘ FeatureBecoming the fiddler: Fiddler on the Roof
Violinist Raphael Papo plays the title character in the award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof currently touring the UK. He writes about his research and the interdisciplinary approach that went into developing the role at the heart of this classic musical
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Premium ❘ FeatureSmall violas: does size matter?
Luthiers Bas Maas and Francesco Piasentini report on a series of experiments in Villefavard, France, seeking to discover conclusively whether small violas can produce sound as ‘big’ as larger models
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Premium ❘ FeatureString teachers’ development: sharing the wisdom
Teaching often forms a major part of a string player’s career, but how and where do they develop the skills required? Peter Somerford hears from pedagogues, course leaders and graduates about the options
