The Strad, essential reading for the string music world since 1890

Join The Strad community

Get access to more great content. Including the exclusive Masterclass series, feature previews from the magazine and our newsletters.

Join CLOSE THIS MESSAGE

4 July 2025

Weilerstein performs the third movement with the Czech Philharmonic and conductor Tomáš Netopil

My Space: Alan Beavitt’s Scoraig workshop
Take a tour of the maker’s Scottish shop
In Focus: A 1942 violin by Arturo Fracassi
Leonardo Cella examines the mid-century instrument by the Italian maker
Charles Beare: 1937–2025
One of the world’s most renowned violin experts died on 26 April this year. Anne Inglis looks back at his life, while friends and colleagues share their memories
Trade Secrets: Creating neck graft sockets – part one
The first of two articles on this topic gives a full and thorough account of casting a scroll and pegbox
Ilya Finkelshteyn: Playing the Domenico Montagnana ‘Farina’ cello 1730
Cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn shares his experience of playing the ’Farina’, the cover instrument of The Strad’s July 2025 issue and poster. He is principal cellist in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a faculty member of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and a frequent performer at the Mostly Mozart ...
Power and majesty: Domenico Montagnana ‘Farina’ cello 1730
Made by Domenico Montagnana in 1730, the ‘Farina’ cello is a stunning instrument with a rich, powerful sound. John Waddle and Steve Sirr delve into its history and show how CT scans helped gather measurements for this month’s poster

Renato Criscuolo: Marcello
Lack of finesse short-changes these fine Baroque sonatas
Tobias Feldmann: Mozart’s Journey to Paris
A period-instrument authority makes a strong case for Mozart
Fanny Clamagirand: Florence Price
Performances of great character for a still-underrated American
Brahms Trio: Rachmaninoff
Intuitive musicianship illuminates a Russian master
Ulf Wallin: Rautavaara
A modern classic is refreshed with clarity of vision
Kansas Virtuosi: Salgado
A follow-up album does full justice to an eclectic Ecuadorian