The Strad’s editor Emma Baker introduces the November 2025 issue starring legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman, who celebrated his 80th birthday this year
The legend that is Itzhak Perlman celebrated his 80th birthday on 31 August this year. The Strad has marked each of his ‘big birthdays’ since his 50th in 1995 with a cover interview, and in 2025 we have continued the tradition. The great violinist speaks to Ariane Todes about his long and spectacular career, his thoughts on the playing styles of today, teaching, and how he has embraced the latest social media trends.
Also in our North America-themed issue this month, the focus falls on the Calidore Quartet, the members of which met at the Colburn School in Los Angeles in 2008. Recently they have recorded a highly acclaimed cycle of the complete Beethoven string quartets. They speak to Thomas May about their musical processes and their future plans.
Raphael Gold presents a fascinating survey of the American bow makers of the Jazz Age, exactly a century ago. Also in lutherie, Clifford Hall looks at amplified stringed instruments – some definitely weird and a few bordering on wonderful – which were developed in response to the dawn of the acoustic recording era.
Paul Hindemith was born 130 years ago this month; to mark this anniversary, Carlos María Solare looks at the composer’s American years (he became a US citizen in 1946, having fled the Nazi regime in his native Germany). We also hear from three leading string players who are particular champions of the composer’s music.
In our Session Report, Chloë Hanslip chats to Harry White about recording two neglected violin concertos, by US composers who were Broadway orchestrators and compatriots of George Gershwin. And the American violinist Melissa White shares her Life Lessons, including the importance of spontaneity in music making and the power of yoga.
Emma Baker editor
Email me at thestrad@thestrad.com or tweet @TheStradMag
Issue summary
In an American-themed issue. we talk to legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman for his 80th birthday and examine Paul Hindemith’s years Stateside. There’s an interview with the Calidore Quartet and a look at the US bow makers of the 1920s. Plus a Brahms Masterclass and violinist Melissa White’s Life Lessons.
Contents
ITZHAK PERLMAN AT 80 As he enters his ninth decade, the Israeli–American violinist tells Ariane Todes about his long career and his surprising new role as a social media star
AMERICAN BOWS IN 1925 Raphael Gold explores why the Jazz Age saw a boom in US bow production, tells the stories of some of the key protagonists and examines several of their bows
CALIDORE QUARTET The four members of the New York-based group speak to Thomas May about their training, repertoire choices, and recording Beethoven’s complete quartets
HINDEMITH 130 To mark the 130th anniversary of his birth, Carlos María Solare examines the composer’s life and career, focusing on the years he spent in the United States
SESSION REPORT British violinist Chloë Hanslip talks to Harry White about her latest album featuring concertos by US composers Robert Russell Bennett and Vernon Duke
AMPLIFIED INSTRUMENTS At the dawn of the recording era, violin makers tried a number of different ways to make their instruments louder. Clifford Hall looks at some of their solutions
IN FOCUS Claudio Amighetti examines a violin made in 1705 by Antonio Maria Lavazza
TRADE SECRETS Innovative home-made tools
MY SPACE Vinay Murali from Kerala, India
MAKING MATTERS The use of infrared light for instrument diagnostics
MASTERCLASS Liza Ferschtman on the second movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto
TECHNIQUE Violist Alan George discusses string quartet playing through a viola lens
LIFE LESSONS The memories and opinions of US violinist Melissa White
OPINION Why playing duets in lessons is both useful and important for students
POSTCARD FROM CALIFORNIA A report from the 2025 Music@Menlo festival
POSTCARD FROM IDAHO Emma Baker gives her thoughts on the Sun Valley Music Festival
FROM THE ARCHIVE From November 1905
SENTIMENTAL WORK Krysia Osostowicz on playing Shostakovich’s String Quartet no.15
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