All Features articles – Page 2
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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
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: cellist Anastasia Kobekina on recording the Bach Solo Cello Suites
Cellist Anastasia Kobekina tells Charlotte Gardner about her approach to recording the monumental Bach Solo Cello Suites, and how it has resulted in her most personal album to date
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Premium ❘ FeatureNotes between friends: Denver Adult Strings Camp
When violinist Sarah Jylkka launched a summer camp for adult string learners in Colorado, she was overwhelmed by the uptake. She speaks to Hattie Butterworth about how the Denver Adult Strings Camp has become a thriving, growing initiative
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Premium ❘ FeatureLutherie in Berlin: Berlin calling
While some European capitals have a well-documented history of violin making, Berlin has passed under the radar. Daniel Kogge looks at some of the German capital’s most prominent makers from the 18th century onwards
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Premium ❘ FeatureTabea Zimmermann: climb every mountain
German violist Tabea Zimmermann chats with Pauline Harding about auditions, competitions, her teaching philosophy, what she’s learnt from contemporary music – and how a combination of working with students and performing has enabled her to reach ever greater heights of string playing
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Premium ❘ FeatureGary Karr: 1941–2025
The great and influential US double bassist died in July. His former student David Murray, now bass professor at the Butler School of Music, looks back at ‘a legend, artist, teacher and friend’
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Premium ❘ FeatureBridge acoustics: the invisible bridge
Is it possible to simulate the effects of bridge adjustment in a computer? Physicist Jim Woodhouse presents the results of a series of experiments to demonstrate the possibilities
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Premium ❘ FeatureString players and injury: playing through the pain?
Violinist and teacher Philippa Bunting explores the – often extreme – impact that an injury can have on a musician, how the industry is dealing with the issue and what musicians can do to help themselves
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Violinist Rachel Podger on recording Biber sonatas
Violinist Rachel Podger tells Peter Quantrill about her new recording of Biber sonatas, and how the music has both a sense of the unexpected and the power to soothe and delight
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Premium ❘ FeatureTeaching lutherie in Latin America: sowing the seeds for success
Peter Somerford explores how an instrument repair initiative, set up by the Latin American youth orchestra venture Iberorquestas and violin maker Lionnel Genovart, has grown to create a new generation of luthiers
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Premium ❘ FeatureColeridge-Taylor 150: ‘A message of hope and resilience’
August 2025 marks 150 years since the birth of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the British composer and violinist. Bruce Hodges speaks to five leading violinists about what his music means to them
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Premium ❘ FeatureAbel Selaocoe: I am because we are
South African cellist, singer and composer Abel Selaocoe speaks to Lauren Wesley-Smith about opening up classical spaces, finding his musical identity, and his most recent album – as well as sharing a few pearls of wisdom
