August 2026: Editor’s welcome and contents

The Catalan viola da gamba player and conductor Jordi Savall has for more than five decades been at the forefront of the early music movement, pioneering repertoire and period performance practice while promoting a message of tolerance between peoples, religions and political creeds through his music. The year 2026 has already proved a significant one for him: alongside receiving the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize for a lifetime of achievement, he celebrates his 85th birthday on 1 August and brings his ensembles to the Edinburgh International Festival later this month. He speaks to Michael White about his truly remarkable career.

What do Beamish, Britten, Clarke, Hindemith and Mozart have in common? They are all composers who played the viola. To this list we can add the celebrated Australian composer Brett Dean, a former member of the viola section in the Berlin Philharmonic. He speaks to Jessica Duchen about his career and artistic philosophy, as he comes full circle with his appointment as composer-in-residence with the Berlin Philharmonic.

We also explore some fine examples of the viola in this issue, focusing on the work of the Jedburgh-born luthier Matthew Hardie, who died 200 years ago this year and earned the moniker ‘the Scottish Stradivari’. David Rattray examines his life and work.

Also in lutherie, Florent Boyer begins a two-part series on the seismic shift in French violin making during the 18th century, with a particular focus on the Paris school.

As well as being the cornerstone of the cellist’s repertoire, Bach’s Cello Suites are among the most analysed and written-about set of works in Western musical history, and for good reason –there really is nothing else like them. Markus Rathey puts forward an intriguing theory: that Bach’s virtuosity as an organist, and specifically his astonishingly nimble pedal technique, lay behind his decision to write for a bass stringed instrument in such an original way.

Emma Baker editor

Email me at thestrad@thestrad.com

Issue summary

We talk to early music giant Jordi Savall and examine the evolution of French violins in the 18th century. There’s an interview with violist–composer Brett Dean and a look at how Bach’s genius as an organist informed his Cello Suites. Plus a Grieg Masterclass with Esther Yoo, and Alban Gerhardt’s Session Report.