All Focus articles
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FocusRachel Barton Pine on juggling motherhood with a career as a solo violinist
In this article from our archive, originally published in May 2012, the American violinist Rachel Barton Pine explains how she negotiated the early months of motherhood while maintaining her busy solo career
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The dramatic story behind Ludomir Różycki’s Violin Concerto
Polish virtuoso Janusz Wawrowski’s new arrangement of Ludomir Różycki’s Violin Concerto reveals a far more optimistic work than its wartime origins suggest, writes Harry White
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David Garrett: ‘Even if you’re arranging Metallica or Iron Maiden, there needs to be a sense of classical culture’
In this extract from our April issue, the violin superstar talks to us about writing the perfect crossover cover
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How do you balance the piano with strings?
Producing a nuanced, well-balanced and blended combination of piano and strings can be a difficult performance feat to achieve. Pauline Harding talks to chamber musicians, soloists and teachers to discover some of their secrets
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7 warming up and cooling down exercises for musicians
Suggested warm-ups prior to playing and cool-down stretches following performance and/or practice
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‘I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to play the violin any more’ – David Garrett
Garrett was plagued by feelings of inadequacy after spending his childhood in the classical spotlight, he tells Charlotte Smith
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Hideko Udagawa: Life Lessons
Like her teacher Nathan Milstein, the Japanese–British violinist argues that technique isn’t everything
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Steven Isserlis – ‘In private Ivry Gitlis was quite similar to how he was in public’
When Ivry Gitlis died on Christmas Eve last year at the age of 98 there was an outpouring of love and affection from the musical community. In this article, paying tribute to the great violinist’s life and career, Tully Potter quotes cellist Steven Isserlis
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‘It was the escape plan for less than first-class musicians’ – David Garrett on changing attitudes to crossover playing
Abandoned by his management, David Garrett had to overcome snobbery to return to the classical spotlight, as he tells Charlotte Smith
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On the challenge of page-turning
Gerald Elias has spent many years as a professional orchestral violinist – in the Boston SO and Utah Symphony – and has been music director of Salt Lake City’s Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra since 2004. Here he explores the issue of page-turning - a universal challenge faced by orchestral ...
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Violinist Elena Urioste on why a thorough warm-up regimen is a necessity for good practice
The US violinist explains why warming up is an essential part of a day's practice
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'It’s awful to hear yourselves back and realise that it’s way too obvious’ – Engegård Quartet
The Engegård Quartet’s third album of Mozart string quartets was all about timing – from allowing enough space between learning and recording the works, to faithfully honouring the composer’s tempo markings – as Andrew Mellor discovers
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Steven Staryk on violin and bow forgeries
The former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles, shares his thoughts on violin and bow forgeries
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Life Lessons: François Rabbath
The French-Syrian double bassist, who turns 90 today, considers his unique technical journey, the inspiration he drew from crustaceans, and the benefits of playing a waiting game
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How I warm up: Hilary Hahn
The American violinist explains why she no longer warms up with etudes, scales and technical exercises
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Hilary Hahn: ‘I find that speaking, thinking and sharing ideas is integral to the experience of being in France’
To tie in with the recent release of her new disc, ’Paris’, the violinist speaks to us about the ideas behind it, and her long experience of working in Paris
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Steven Staryk on violins and bows as investments
The former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among other ensembles, shares his thoughts on the value of violins and bows as investments
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Johan Dalene: Life Lessons
Two years on from winning the Carl Nielsen International Competition, the 20-year-old Swedish violinist is staying close to his roots
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How I warm up: violist Maxim Rysanov
The Russian-born viola player gives an insight into his detailed warm-up regimen
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The Art of Leadership: Steven Staryk
The well-travelled concertmaster discusses his time leading British, Dutch, US and Canadian orchestras as he talks to Julian Haylock
