October 2025: Editor’s welcome and contents

The October issue of The Strad marks not only the end of summer in the northern hemisphere, but also new beginnings: the start of the academic year and the 2025–26 concert season. Our cover star, the American cellist Alisa Weilerstein, also begins her autumn and winter residency at London’s Southbank Centre on 27 September; this includes the UK premiere of the first two recitals in her Fragments project, which intersperses the six Bach Cello Suites with works by contemporary composers. She speaks to Peter Quantrill.

We travel to India where Nikhil Bhambri explores the history of the violin in Carnatic (South Indian) classical music. Introduced from the West in the late 18th century, the instrument quickly became a fundamental part of the Indian classical tradition, with its versatile, almost infinite gradations of pitch and capacity for scordatura.

And speaking of scordatura, perhaps the most famous work to take advantage of unconventional tunings for the violin is Biber’s set of Mystery (or Rosary) Sonatas which takes both player and instrument on an extraordinary, often uncomfortable journey over 16 movements. Elena Chernova-Davis examines the symbolism behind these 17th-century masterpieces.

In lutherie this issue, our historical gaze falls on the Tieffenbruckers, a dynasty of luthiers from the Venice region. Stefano Pio recounts a history of family secrets and lies, and the occasional black sheep. We also shine a light on the double bass: Luigi Sisto looks at an elegant 1895 bass by Vincenzo Postiglione (In Focus), and in Making Matters, Lászlo Nemessányi demonstrates the differences in set-up for basses used by classical and jazz players.

And Christian Lloyd looks forward to the new year when he takes us on a tour of the twelve beautiful instruments (including an eleven-foot-high octobass) from the Canimex collection in Canada, as featured in The Strad Calendar 2026.

Emma Baker editor

Email me at thestrad@thestrad.com or tweet @TheStradMag

Issue summary

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein talks about her new project Fragments and we examine the Tieffenbrucker family of luthiers. There’s a look at the Carnatic violin tradition of South India and an exploration of Biber’s Mystery Sonatas. Plus a Dvořák Masterclass and a Technique article on pizzicato.