All Focus articles – Page 6
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Words of Wisdom: violist Kim Kashkashian
The violist shared her nuggets of musical wisdom in our July 2014 issue
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Double Acts: actor Russell Crowe and violinist Richard Tognetti
Gladiator star Crowe found learning the violin over a three-month period for the film Master and Commander tiring until Tognetti taught him how to relax
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The Strad Podcast #87: Yoga and string playing with violinist Melissa White
‘Our bodies are our best teachers’
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‘You can’t criticise someone too much if you want a relationship - or a quartet - to last’- Double Acts: Emma and Matthew Denton
The Carducci Quartet’s cellist and first violinist share an inside view on their relationship
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The Strad Podcast #86: violinist Francisco Fullana on the 1735 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ ’Mary Portman, ex-Kreisler’ violin
Steeped in history, this violin has enabled Francisco Fullana to unleash his musical creativity
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‘There’s a lot of teasing. Even his kids tease me’ - Double Acts: Colin Carr and Thomas Sauer
Cellist Colin Carr and pianist Thomas Sauer talk about their shared passions and friendship
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The Strad Podcast #85: the Dudok Quartet on ‘What Remains’ and eclecticism
Violinist Marleen Wester and cellist David Faber speak about drawing influences from a range of sources on the quartet’s new album
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In Focus: The ‘Wieniawski’ Stradivari violin of 1719
In this article from the May 2009 issue, Florian Leonhard takes a close look at a violin which ’encapsulates everything that made Antonio Stradivari such a legendary figure’. Photographs by Richard Valencia
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‘We were decadent tramps. I think we still are, in some ways’ - Double Acts: Igudesman and Joo
Comedy violin–piano duo Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo talk about fish and chips, student squalor and their love of onstage pranks
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The Strad Podcast #84: double bassist Luis Cabrera on performing Bach Cello Suites
The double bassist speaks about his historically informed video recording of the first suite
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‘He got a cellist friend to call me and tell me how bad the pay was’ - Double Acts: Christopher Humphrys and John Humphrys
The famously forthright BBC journalist and his cellist son discuss career concerns
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From the mists of time: forgotten string players of the past
Some of the 20th century’s greatest string players were critically lauded in their day, but are now almost forgotten
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Small Wonders: The elements of style
John Dilworth asks why the finest details really do mean so much
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‘We share an irrational love of Christmas carols’ - Double Acts: Elena Urioste and Melissa White
Two American violinist friends discuss pumpkin-hurling, high-temperature yoga and playing The Star-Spangled Banner for boxers
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Great string players of the past: violinist Ivry Gitlis on George Enescu
Ivry Gitlis’s lessons with George Enescu focused purely on the music. From October 2013
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Small wonders: Pins
John Dilworth muses on how a lutherie imperfection has become a defining factor in instrument appraisal
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‘Mihaela’s tiramisu is the best I’ve eaten!’ - Double Acts: Frans Helmerson and Mihaela Martin
The husband-and-wife cellist and violinist discuss their different temperaments, their shared interest in world cuisine, and getting locked in a concert hall
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Great string players of the past: violinist Jacques Thibaud
Listening to Jacques Thibaud always makes Steven Isserlis smile. From October 2013
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Small Wonders: Shellac
John Dilworth explains how hard-working beetles provide one of lutherie’s vital ingredients
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On the trail of a 1708 Stradivari: J.T. Carrodus and a mystery violin
In an addendum to his article in the June 2023 issue, Gennady Fillimonov uncovers how a 1708 Stradivari violin was mistaken for a cello, and other sundry observations