December 2025: Editor’s welcome and contents

Antonio Stradivari is such a hallowed figure in the string world that it’s easy to forget that his brilliance didn’t simply appear fully formed, but was the result of many years of innovation and experimentation. On page 36 Philip Ihle shares his research into the moulds and patterns from the great luthier’s early career and considers how the young Antonio’s constant questioning and experimentation led to the genius instruments of his mature years.

Our cover star this month is the Swedish violinist Johan Dalene (who, incidentally, plays a Strad – the 1725 ‘Duke of Cambridge’). He is still only 25 but already has an impressive list of achievements under his belt; from his win at the Nielsen Competition in 2019, when he was still only 19, to his sixth album, pairing the Mendelssohn and Bruch concertos, which he tells Jessica Duchen about on page 28. He is also an artist who actively champions contemporary composers and promotes new music.

We mark two anniversaries this issue. On page 56 Oskar Falta remembers the British cellist Amaryllis Fleming, born 100 years ago this month. She led quite a life; she was one of several illegitimate children of the artist Augustus John, a lover of Pierre Fournier, and half-sister of writer Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond. She was also a very fine performer and teacher, although her star was rather eclipsed by the rise of Jacqueline du Pré, 20 years her junior. However, her legacy lives on in two instruments named after her, as well as the main concert hall of her alma mater, the Royal College of Music.

On page 48 a group of players and makers pay tribute to the luthier Simone Fernando Sacconi to mark the 130th anniversary of his birth. Author of the seminal work The ‘Secrets’ of Stradivari he was a generous man who shared his knowledge freely, and is warmly remembered.

As 2025 draws to a close, with its backdrop of turbulent world events, we should remember that as musicians we need to take care of our wellbeing. On page 44 Pedro de Alcantara suggests some playful but useful exercises for string players’ creative health which have the potential both to dispel tension in the hands and arms, and to spark the musical imagination.

Emma Baker editor

Email me at thestrad@thestrad.com 

Issue summary

Johan Dalene talks about his latest album and we examine how Stradivari’s early violin patterns developed. There’s a look at creative health for musicians and anniversary tributes to Amaryllis Fleming and Simone Fernando Sacconi. Plus Sol Gabetta’s Sentimental Work.