All Focus articles – Page 32
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FocusReturning to playing after a break: top string teachers share their tips
For those who have picked up their instruments after a hiatus and thought, ‘What on earth is this?!’ - five string teachers from around the UK share exercises for both hands, posture, listening and performance
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FocusDiscovering the composition of historical varnishes
In this extract from the October 2021 issue, Balthazar Soulier, Stefan Zumbühl and Christophe Zindel introduce their study of minerals historical varnishes
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FocusViolinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Fazil Say perform Bartok: Three Romanian Folk Dances
Check out this recent performance that will make you wish you could play artificial harmonics with such dexterity
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Focus3 simple trill exercises for players and teachers
Professor of viola and chair of strings at Texas Christian University Misha Galaganov offers technical advice on how to play and teach trills
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FocusThe Strad Podcast Episode #14: Nicolas Altstaedt on the Lutosławski Cello Concerto
’I always tell my agents ”put Lutosławski on the top of the list”, it’s really maybe my number one favourite of all concertos!’
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FocusAnne-Sophie Mutter on fine and contemporary instruments
The Strad’s April 2020 issue cover star discusses performing on her own Strads and on newer violins
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Hendrik Jacobs cello 1696
One of the very few cellos made by Hendrik Jacobs himself, and the only Dutch instrument in the Calendar
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FocusFour players and their Strads
Violinists Maxim Vengerov, Leonidas Kavakos, Janine Jansen and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber share what it’s like to play their Stradivari instruments
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FocusYo-Yo Ma on playing his 1712 ‘Davidov’ Stradivari cello
In this excerpt from The Strad’s January 2018 article, ‘The Great Connector’ the renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma talks about performing on his 1712 ‘Davidov’ Stradivari, previously used by Jacqueline du Pré
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FocusSentimental Work: Tim Kliphuis
Richard Strauss’s song Morgen! proved to be the Dutch violinist’s route into cross-genre performance – and one of the most popular pieces performed by his trio
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FocusJanine Jansen on playing twelve Stradivari violins
Janine Jansen discovered different characteristics and quirks among the twelve Stradivari violins used in her recent recording and documentary, in this extract from the October 2021 issue
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FocusViolinist Josef Gingold on studying with the great Eugène Ysaÿe
Gingold spoke about his period of training with the Belgian master in The Strad's April 1983 issue
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FocusMusic studies in China: Tianjin Juilliard School
Tom Stewart examines how students from China and abroad may be tempted to pursue studies at the new Tianjin Juilliard School
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FocusDissolving boundaries: Elena Urioste on approaching music of different styles
Violinist Elena Urioste writes about the value of having a sense of adventure and removing labels when approaching music of different styles
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FocusFrom the Archive: Why do so many musicians have long hair?
Whether as a mark of distinction or genius, the trend is embodied by Eugène Ysaÿe, according to The Strad's June 1897 issue
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Focus‘It’s important to be emotionally authentic – you mustn’t give false messages’ – Steven Isserlis
The British cellist on performing at the 2021 In Classica International Music Festival in Dubai, and returning to solo Bach during the pandemic
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FocusThe Strad Podcast #13: Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier on dealing with performance anxiety
‘We go quickly from “this is out of tune” to “I’m the worst human being on the planet!”’
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FocusYsaÿe’s early compositions
Andrew Morris explores the early life and compositions of Eugène Ysaÿe, in this extract from July 2008
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FocusThe Strad Calendar 2022: Giuseppe Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin c.1736
With a handsome, deeply reflective and broadly flamed maple back, this is the crown jewel in the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation’s collection
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FocusJanine Jansen: Twelve chosen Stradivaris
Our October 2021 issue features violinist Janine Jansen’s journey to record an album and documentary on twelve different Stradivari violins. Read about the violins that were chosen for the project
