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The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic: Better by the dozen
2023-03-30T09:02:00+01:00
Katinka Welz speaks to members of the ensemble about its history and popularity
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‘Her physical strength is great’ - From the archive: April 1923
2023-03-30T09:00:00+01:00
A review from the archive of Portuguese cellist Guilhermina Suggia
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Postcard from Boca Raton: Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
2023-03-27T09:03:00+01:00
In south Florida, the third triennial Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition continued to build on its credentials for developing outstanding young talent
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‘It feels like everything coming together in life’ - Carolin Widmann
2023-03-23T09:50:00+00:00
The German violinist Carolin Widmann talks to David Kettle about returning to live performance and her commitment to new music
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Session Report: The Tippett Quartet on recording Korngold’s string quartets
2023-03-22T10:12:00+00:00
Members of the Tippett Quartet talk to Jessica Duchen about recording Korngold’s string quartets
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Sentimental Work: Tanja Tetzlaff on Lutosławski’s Cello Concerto
2023-03-22T10:06:00+00:00
Despite being a challenging piece, the Lutosławski Cello Concerto brings back memories for the German cellist, from her tutor Heinrich Schiff to her own teaching experience
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Opinion: French or German bass bow hold?
2023-03-22T10:06:00+00:00
Rodrigo Moro Martín, the London Symphony Orchestra’s new principal double bass, argues that the two tribes who favour French and German bow holds should coexist in perfect harmony
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‘I really don’t like it but don’t change a note’ - Pierre Amoyal’s Life Lessons
2023-03-22T10:06:00+00:00
The French violinist and pedagogue on his time with Heifetz and the perils of competitions
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‘Fall in love with a composer’s universe’ - Jean-Guihen Queyras’s life lessons
2023-03-20T10:01:00+00:00
The French cellist recalls the teachers who helped him on his unique journey, and the role of the player as interpreter
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Masterclass: Mozart Violin Concerto no.4 in D major K218
2023-03-15T08:45:00+00:00
Violinist Francesca Dego looks at how to play the final movement of this violin concerto with direction, musicality and a sense of fun
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Sentimental Work: Viotti’s Ranz des Vaches
2023-03-13T09:15:00+00:00
Peter Sheppard Skærved on how Viotti’s short piece Ranz des Vaches had a seismic effect on him
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The Baryton: How a forgotten instrument is making a comeback
2023-03-07T09:02:00+00:00
Gavin Dixon reports on the comeback of ‘the king of instruments’
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Postcard from Kerteminde: Chamber Music at Lundsgaard
2023-03-06T09:02:00+00:00
The beautiful Lundsgaard Estate on the Danish island of Funen is the setting for an imaginative summer chamber music festival, as Emma Baker discovers
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Session Report: The Calidore Quartet on recording Beethoven’s late quartets
2023-03-03T09:01:00+00:00
Peter Quantrill hears from the Calidore Quartet about how Beethoven involves intense preparation and a sense of ‘leaning into the weird’
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‘We learnt from her a love and respect for music’ - cellist Natalia Shakhovskaya
2023-03-02T09:02:00+00:00
Oskar Falta examines Natalia Shakhovskaya’s life and hears from some of her former pupils about her exacting teaching style
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‘I had to give ten encores in succession’: From the archive: March 1903
2023-03-02T09:01:00+00:00
Violinist Marie Hall, then just 18 years of age, talks to The Strad about studying with Otakar Ševčík and her burgeoning international career
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Opinion: Are regional differences in orchestral tuning really necessary?
2023-02-27T09:01:00+00:00
Historically, orchestras have tuned to slightly different versions of the note A. Thomas Eisner wonders whether such gradations really matter
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‘Ambitious in the way we prepared, not about where we wanted to be’: 20 years of the Danish Quartet
2023-02-23T09:50:00+00:00
Andrew Mellor talks to the Danish Quartet as they embark on their 20th-anniversary season
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Masterclass: Julia Fischer on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Third Movement
2023-02-22T08:00:00+00:00
Conversations between instruments, harmony and articulation all form part of Julia Fischer’s discussion of this joyous third movement
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Sentimental Work: Schubert’s Eighth and Ninth symphonies
2023-02-20T08:43:00+00:00
Recording Schubert’s Eighth and Ninth symphonies after a lifetime of earlier works was an intriguing challenge for veteran Catalan–Spanish gambist and conductor Jordi Savall
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Masterclass: Augustin Hadelich on Beethoven’s Violin Concerto first movement - part 1
2023-02-15T09:41:00+00:00By Pauline Harding
In the first of two articles, Augustin Hadelich looks at direction and flow in the first movement of this notoriously simple and yet deceptively difficult work
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‘Education never stops’ - Joshua Bell’s life lessons
2023-02-13T08:36:00+00:00
The American violinist discusses his varied experiences with teachers and the importance of learning from everyone
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‘The violin concerto lives again’ - Opinion
2023-02-06T09:43:00+00:00
Are we witnessing a golden age for new violin concertos, or simply too much of a good thing?
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Lucien Capet: The French Connection
2023-02-02T08:02:00+00:00
Tully Potter examines the life and legacy of French violinist Lucien Capet
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‘I’m always looking for something new’ - Midori: In love with music
2023-02-01T08:12:00+00:00
Thomas May discovers how Midori’s remarkable range of commitments reflects her belief in art’s power to transform
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Masterclass: Tai Murray on Beethoven’s ‘Triple’ Concerto Part 1
2023-02-01T08:11:00+00:00By Pauline Harding
In the first of two articles, violinist Tai Murray discusses individuality, balance and tempo in the lengthy first movement of the op.56 concerto for piano, cello and violin
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Session Report: Timothy Ridout on recording the Elgar Cello Concerto for viola
2023-01-31T08:52:00+00:00
British violist Timothy Ridout speaks to Carlos María Solare about adapting and recording the Elgar Cello Concerto
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Something to smile about: Postcard from Poznań
2023-01-30T08:42:00+00:00
Tim Homfray attended the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznań, and discovered an impressive collection of competitors
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Great Cellists: Jacqueline du Pré
2023-01-26T10:01:00+00:00
Although her professional career lasted just twelve years, the British musician became a legend in her own lifetime. Julian Haylock assesses her style and recorded legacy in this feature from June 2016
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Elgar Cello Concerto: The classic interpretation
2023-01-26T10:00:00+00:00By Tully Potter
Jacqueline du Pré’s 1965 recording of Elgar’s Cello Concerto set the benchmark for every cellist who followed her. Tully Potter explores the enduring popularity of her powerful and iconic performance
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‘On a cello, you can do big things’ - Christian-Pierre La Marca
2023-01-25T09:48:00+00:00
Cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca speaks to Charlotte Gardner about his new album, Legacy
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How to win without winning - Competitions: The competitive advantage
2023-01-23T10:08:00+00:00
Charlotte Gardner asks industry leaders for their top competition advice
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‘Fancy a tea party with Grieg?’: From the archive: January 1913
2023-01-19T08:22:00+00:00
The pseudonymous ‘Lancastrian’ (Dr William Hardman) interviews virtuoso violinist Adolph Brodsky
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‘Know the rules before you break them’ - Matt Haimovitz’s life lessons
2023-01-12T09:21:00+00:00
The US cellist on how a disciplined early approach enabled him to embrace the possibilities of new experiences
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Masterclass: Esther Yoo on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto Third Movement
2023-01-11T09:52:00+00:00
Esther Yoo imagines a ballroom of swirling summer dancers and secret trysts as she talks through the sparkling third movement of this magical work
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‘I am striving to sound like a voice’ - Session Report: Maria Ioudenitch
2023-01-09T08:39:00+00:00
Rita Fernandes talks to violinist Maria Ioudenitch about her forthcoming album
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A birthday celebration: Postcard from Barcelona
2023-01-05T08:29:00+00:00
Carlos María Solare visited the stylish Catalan capital for a slice of string quartet heaven
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Repetitive practice: Once more, with feeling
2023-01-03T10:46:00+00:00
Pedro de Alcantara provides tips on bringing creativity and intentionality into your practice time
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Bottesini’s 200th anniversary: The world at his feet
2022-12-22T10:15:00+00:00
Stephen Street looks at the life and career of the remarkable artist Giovanni Bottesini and introduces us to his catalogue of works