All Focus articles – Page 8
-
FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1739 ‘Beatrice Harrison’ Pietro Guarneri of Venice cello
One of only five or six cellos made by the luthier, it was the British cellist’s principal performing instrument for many years
-
FocusMy experience: violinist Alyssa Barker, Berklee College of Music
The violinist shares how the school has given her numerous opportunites to perform in a wide range of styles
-
FocusDouble Acts: Brandon Vamos and Simin Ganatra
Brandon Vamos, cellist of the Pacifica Quartet, and Simin Ganatra, its first violinist, discuss the benefits of performing and teaching as husband and wife
-
FocusThe Strad Podcast #102: teaching students to teach themselves with cellist Laurence Lesser
In celebration of his 85th birthday and 50 years at the New England Conservatory, Laurence speaks about his teaching approaches, including valuable ’a-ha’ moments from throughout his career
-
FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: c.1580 Gasparo da Salò viola
One of the very few violas by the Brescian luthier that has never been cut down
-
FocusMy experience: violinist Kristian Mráček, Prague Conservatoire
What’s it like to study in the cultural heart of the Czech Republic?
-
FocusThe Strad Podcast #101: inside the Zemtsov viola dynasty with Dana and Mikhail Zemtsov
What’s it like being in a family where everyone plays the viola? The father and daughter duo share all
-
FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1737 ‘King Joseph’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
Once considered the crowning achievement of Guarneri’s career, this instrument has pristine golden-orange varnish
-
FocusDouble Acts: Itzhak and Toby Perlman
From our July 2014 issue, husband-and-wife team Itzhak and Toby Perlman spoke about the beginnings of the Perlman Music Program, in light of its 20th anniversary.
-
FocusThe Strad Podcast #100: Cheng² Duo on new works for cello and piano
Our 100th episode features a chat about celebrating cultural heritage, sibling collaboration, as well as how to emulate the sound of a horse on a cello
-
FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1740 ‘Fritz Kreisler’ Carlo Bergonzi violin
One of the finest existing examples of Bergonzi’s work, the instrument still retains its original neck
-
FocusJoseph Conyers’s instrument: a bass called Norma
Our November issue cover star shares details about his instrument, an 1802 Vincenzo Panormo double bass
-
FocusDouble Acts: Violinist James Ehnes and David Fulton
Violinist James Ehnes and instrument collector David Fulton unite in a love fast cars as well as great instruments
-
FocusThe Strad Podcast #99: how to lead a string section with violist Daniel Foster
Principal violist of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC since 1995, Daniel shares his experiences leading a section, as well as advice to those in their first principal roles
-
FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1713 ‘Bass of Spain’ Antonio Stradivari cello
An extraordinary instrument by the master luthier, with an even more incredible provenance
-
FocusDouble Acts: Carolin and Jörg Widmann
For violinist Carolin Widmann and her brother, composer and clarinettist Jörg Widmann, footballing rivalries mask a deep-seated respect for each other’s abilities
-
FocusThe Strad Podcast #98: finding new double bass repertoire with Valentina Ciardelli
Transcriptions of existing repertoire should celebrate the double bass in all its glory, rather than present a poor imitation of other instruments, says the double bassist
-
FocusThe Strad Calendar 2024: 1709 ‘La Pucelle’ Antonio Stradivari violin
Considered to be the first instrument made during the master luthier’s ‘golden period’, the violin is in an excellent state of preservation
-
FocusDouble Acts: cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and violinist Maxim Vengerov
Before he became friends with Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov had to learn how to drink. From October 2004
-
FocusThe Strad Podcast #97: Pavel Berman on playing Oistrakh’s Stradivari violin
What’s it like playing the Shostakovich Violin Sonata - a piece written for David Oistrakh - on Oistrakh’s former violin?
