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Playing

  • 2. Rachel Podger - Brecon Baroque (c) Andrew Staples

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Session Report: Violinist Rachel Podger on recording Biber sonatas

    25 July 2025

    Violinist Rachel Podger tells Peter Quantrill about her new recording of Biber sonatas, and how the music has both a sense of the unexpected and the power to soothe and delight

  • opinion pic aug

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Opinion: Strategies for coming back to your instrument

    25 July 2025

    Returning to your instrument after a long break can be dispiriting, says cellist Davina Shum, but it’s important to take it by degrees, have faith in your ability and trust the process

  • Niel Gow by Henry Raeburn

    Premium ❘ Feature

    'If you play without mistake I will make you a present' - From the Archive: August 1905

    22 July 2025

    A reminiscence (possibly apocryphal) of the renowned Scottish fiddler Niel Gow (1727–1807), composer of more than 80 dance tunes

  • Concert des finalistes Opus 13 2 © MC Monin 2025

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Postcard from France: Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition

    18 July 2025

    At the 2025 edition of the triennial Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, Charlotte Gardner was delighted to hear a dazzlingly high standard of music making

  • Wide-ish and short-ish images

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Coleridge-Taylor 150: ‘A message of hope and resilience’

    18 July 2025

    August 2025 marks 150 years since the birth of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the British composer and violinist. Bruce Hodges speaks to five leading violinists about what his music means to them

  • Abel Selaocoe-Troxy-@benmcquaide-3

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Abel Selaocoe: I am because we are

    18 July 2025

    South African cellist, singer and composer Abel Selaocoe speaks to Lauren Wesley-Smith about opening up classical spaces, finding his musical identity, and his most recent album – as well as sharing a few pearls of wisdom

  • Gubaidulina © Peter Hundert - DG2222

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Sofia Gubaidulina: a musical offering

    11 July 2025

    Gavin Dixon examines the spiritual, visionary string works of the Russian–Tatar composer Sofia Gubaidulina, who died earlier this year

  • © Matthew Johnson Photographer-59

    Premium ❘ Focus

    ‘People sense when you are genuinely passionate about something’ - Stephen Upshaw’s life lessons

    11 July 2025

    The Solem Quartet violist on the life of a chamber musician and how to create your own professional path

  • Brooklyn Rider 1 cr Sarah Small

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Staying power: US String Quartets

    4 July 2025

    As Brooklyn Rider and the Jack and the Miró quartets mark milestone anniversaries, Thomas May looks at how these contemporary American ensembles are not just surviving, but reshaping the 21st-century musical landscape

  • Ayanna Witter-Johnson

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Sentimental Work: Ayanna Witter-Johnson on Debussy’s Cello Sonata

    4 July 2025

    Discovering the myriad colours and layers of Debussy’s Cello Sonata was an eye-opening experience for the British cellist, pianist, vocalist and composer

  • Screenshot 2025-05-13 at 18.10.19

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Session Report: Nancy Zhou on her debut album for solo violin

    27 June 2025

    Violinist Nancy Zhou speaks to Charlotte Gardner about her debut album, which is inspired by stories of personal and musical relationships, and showcases the versatility of the violin as a solo instrument

  • 08 Newark modern sign

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Opinion: The future of lutherie after the Newark School’s course cancellations

    27 June 2025

    News came in May that the Newark School of Violin Making is withdrawing its degree-level courses. Helen Michetschläger, who trained at the school, says what this might mean for the future of lutherie worldwide

  • 0730b112-4480-480b-86e4-fe8a3de2842d

    Premium ❘ Article

    Analysis July 2025: The effects of Leicester Square’s ban on buskers

    27 June 2025

    Now that buskers have been banned in London’s Leicester Square, how does the future of street entertainment look for those who depend on it for their livelihood? By Peter Somerford

  • AdamSummerhayes by Hugh Miller 2024

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Adam Summerhayes: Music shaped by instinct

    20 June 2025

    Adam Summerhayes is a violinist and composer who combines his flair for improvisation and a love of folk music with a classical training and technique. He speaks to Alexandra Petropoulos about his latest projects and his very special instruments

  • 20250503_100604(1)

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Postcard from Newark: Newark School Lutherie Day

    20 June 2025

    Students, amateurs and professional makers all came together at this year’s Lutherie Day for talks on anything violin-related. Christian Lloyd went along

  • c2f9c397_Tetzlaff_Tanja3166_c_Neda_Navaee

    Premium ❘ Focus

    ‘We could all do with being a little less vain’: Tanja Tetzlaff’s life lessons

    13 June 2025

    The German cellist on her biggest influences and the importance of humility

  • MAY Grid posts (8)

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Terry Riley: Ninety journeys around the sun

    13 June 2025

    The trailblazing Californian composer Terry Riley celebrates his 90th birthday this month. David Kettle speaks with him and with some of the musicians who have championed his eclectic, improvisatory music for strings

  • mischa-elman-russian-violinist-mary-evans-picture-library

    Premium ❘ Feature

    ‘Elman was the finest violinist in the world’ - From the Archive: June 1905

    13 June 2025

    A 13-year-old Mischa Elman and 11-year-old Vivien Chartres (not 9, as stated in the text) astonish The Strad’s reviewer ‘Gamba’ with their technical prowess

  • 1.26.23 Guest violinist Baiba Skride with Conductor Andris Nelsons at BSO (Aram Boghosian)

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Sentimental Work: Baiba Skride on Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1

    6 June 2025

    The Latvian violinist grew up with Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1, a work that allows a lot of freedom of expression – as her two recordings amply demonstrate

  • opinion pic

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Opinion: Intelligent approaches to the bow in orchestral playing

    30 May 2025

    The default for many orchestral string players is to use as much bow as possible to achieve maximum projection. Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that a more thoughtful approach is necessary

  • DSCF0097

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Session Report: Leon Bosch on recording his album ‘The British Double Bass Sonatina’

    30 May 2025

    Leon Bosch tells Harry White about his new album of double bass sonatinas – seven brand new works that he commissioned from a circle of contemporary British composers

  • image00044

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Flying the flag for young talent: young artists’ schemes

    30 May 2025

    As the Young Classical Artists Trust celebrates its 40th anniversary, Jessica Duchen hears from artists whose careers have been supported by this and other schemes for emerging talent

  • GettyImages-2207950096 cr MediaPhotos

    Premium ❘ Article

    Analysis June 2025: Newest AI developments in music education

    30 May 2025

    With AI advances almost constantly making headlines in the news, what benefits might it have for the future of music education? By Peter Somerford

  • dfb

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Still making waves: the Australian Chamber Orchestra

    23 May 2025

    As the Australian Chamber Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary, Michael White speaks to its long-time artistic director Richard Tognetti about its unique place in the musical world

  • 250222_0082_ILCE-7RM3AEva Grondal

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Postcard from Svalbard: Arctic Chamber Music Festival

    23 May 2025

    The Arctic Chamber Music Festival takes place in the world’s most northerly town, Longyearbyen. Emma Baker travelled there to sample its unique atmosphere

  • image00013

    Premium ❘ Feature

    The power of three: the string trio

    16 May 2025

    Jacqueline Vanasse explores the unique properties of the string trio, delving into its history and repertoire with the guidance of some of today’s top trio players

  • Diaz, Roberto 1 (credit Charles Grove)

    Premium ❘ Focus

    ‘Curiosity is at the core of human nature’ - Roberto Díaz’s life lessons

    9 May 2025

    The US–Chilean violist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music discusses the importance of technique and curiosity

  • GettyImages-1150974919

    Premium ❘ Feature

    ‘We hope this unjust penalising of ’cellists will disappear’ - From the archive: May 1925

    9 May 2025

    Not planes but trains: a century ago, cellists were up in arms about railway operators charging extra to allow instruments on board. Pedagogue Carl Fuchs reveals the result of the latest petition

  • Wigmore Hall Alina Ibragimova 5 October 2021 © Richard Cannon (8)

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Sentimental Work: Alina Ibragimova on Schumann’s Violin Sonata no.2

    2 May 2025

    For the Russian–British violinist, Schumann’s Violin Sonata no.2 may be exhausting but rewards listeners with a profound insight into the composer’s deepest soul

  • APRIL Grid posts

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Session Report: cellist Zlatomir Fung on recording operatic fantasies for his debut album

    2 May 2025

    For his debut album, US cellist Zlatomir Fung has delved into the world of the operatic fantasy – a relative rarity on the instrument. He speaks to Peter Quantrill about how making the recording has revealed new aspects of his musical personality

  • Enescu_Alfred Cortot

    Premium ❘ Feature

    George Enescu: a musical polymath

    25 April 2025

    Tully Potter explores the rich and colourful life of George Enescu, the extraordinary Romanian violinist, composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue, who died 70 years ago

  • GettyImages-2204810455

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Opinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’

    25 April 2025

    Violinist and teacher Alun Thomas explains why, when working on our technique and expression, string players should focus much more attention to the right arm than we might at first imagine

  • Steven Isserlis 1 cr Alex Brown

    Premium ❘ Article

    Analysis May 2025: Dealing with concert cancellations

    25 April 2025

    One of the main problems for venues and promoters is what to do when an artist cancels at the last minute. How can they best appease their audiences? Peter Somerford investigates

  • 250125-ATC_Glasshouse_ThomasJackson-205

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Postcard from Gateshead: Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions

    16 April 2025

    Tully Potter attended the 2025 editions of the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions – held for the first time under one roof in the north-east of England – and he couldn’t fault the results

  • EXCLUSIVE pc Neda Navaee 1

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Philippe Quint: a time of change

    16 April 2025

    US violinist Philippe Quint speaks to Rita Fernandes about his deeply personal new album Milestones, which represents a turning point in his career

  • Phil_181011_074_SR cr Stephan Rabold

    Premium ❘ Focus

    Sentimental Work: Frank Peter Zimmermann on Schumann’s Violin Concerto

    11 April 2025

    Although the German violinist came late to Schumann, the Violin Concerto remains one of his repertoire staples – and provides an insight into the composer’s fraught mental state

  • 37502FLV456

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Advice from peers: sharing the wisdom

    11 April 2025

    Charlotte Gardner speaks to leading string players who have learnt valuable lessons from their colleagues and contemporaries, demonstrating that such insights are not only passed from teacher to pupil

  • C70-0011

    Premium ❘ Feature

    Session Report: the London Handel Players on recording Telemann’s ‘Paris’ Quartets

    4 April 2025

    As part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, the London Handel Players has recorded six of Telemann’s ‘Paris’ Quartets. Robin Stowell speaks to two of the ensemble’s members about bringing the dance elements in the music to life

  • Maximilian_Hornung©JuliaWesely_groß++-3258

    Premium ❘ Focus

    ‘Always be truthful and loyal to yourself’ - Maximilian Hornung’s life lessons

    4 April 2025

    The German cellist on his varying influences and what it takes to be a musician

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