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2024-04-23T10:47:00+01:00

Ma plays the solemn D minor Prelude amid melting permafrost on Lower Tanana Dene lands in Fairbanks, Alaska

Truly unique: Henrik Frendin on his custom-made electric viola and five-string bass viola
Violist Henrik Frendin shares how his search for the perfect sound palette led him to commission two bespoke instruments by Richard Rolf
Like living beings: how instruments damaged by war and disaster found new life thanks to a luthier’s noblesse oblige
Barbara Khristi writes about the deeds of luthier Phillip Injeian, who helped restore instruments damaged in the Bosnian War, as well as the 2010 Haiti earthquake
A Gagliano and a Strad: the violins of Maria Dueñas
Our May 2024 cover star discusses the tools of her trade with Tom Stewart
The pernambuco wood dilemma: a call for global responsibility and unity
Connecting cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, Daniel Neves discusses a proposal to include pernambuco in Appendix I of CITES, a change that would significantly impact the global trade of this essential wood
The Maccaferri-style violin inspired by Django Reinhardt
Luthier Neil Campbell shares how he crafted a violin in the style of the iconic instrument played by the legendary guitarist
A mystery unveiled: the makers of Ferrara
While scholars have scrutinised the making traditions of various Italian cities, the luthiers of Ferrara have been largely neglected – until now. Florian Leonhard presents the results of recent archival research into Alessandro Mezzadri and the Marconcini family, along with notes on their making styles

Concert review: Inbal Segev (cello) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Oksana Lyniv
Peter Quantrill hears the performance of Victoria Vita Polevá and Dvořák at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 9 February 2024
Philippe Graffin: Rêves
World-premiere recordings of newly discovered works are given with panache
Concert review: Silesian Quartet, Mats Lidström (cello)
Edward Bhesania hears the performance of Weinberg and Lutosławski at London’s Wigmore Hall on 19 February 2024
Concert review: Pablo Ferrández (cello) London Philharmonic Orchestra/Karina Canellakis
Edward Bhesania hears the performance of Brahms, Mussorgsky and Shostakovich at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 21 February 2024
The Strad Recommends: Daniel Rowland: Richter
A new approach to an iconic piece proves seductive
The Strad Recommends: Tim Posner: Bloch, Bruch, Dohnányi
An impressive concerto debut from a characterful young Brit

The bows of Richard Otto Gläsel
A selection of bows by the German-born bow maker (1885-1931), whose work exhibits the influence of Claude Thomassin and other French artisans of the era