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- The Japanese-American violinist Midori speaks about performing contemporary music, recording Beethoven and dedicating herself to social causes. Plus more.
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Historical
Video
Cremonese makers launch video showcase
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on Italian lutherie, a group of violin makers in Cremona have put together a video showcasing their working methods. The aim is to demonstrate the vibrancy and industriousness of today’s luthiers, as Antonio Stradivari wanders the streets of modern-day Cremona, viewing ...
Video
The Strad Calendar 2021: ‘Arditi’ Antonio Stradivari violin
This year’s calendar contains twelve masterpieces by Stradivari, Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, Rogeri, Vuillaume and many more
Current issue
October
The Strad’s October issue features Japanese-American violinist Midori, who speaks about performing contemporary music, recording Beethoven and dedicating herself to social causes. We also talk to Italian luthiers about adjusting to working in the time of Covid-19 and examine the rise of the viola in Georgian Britain. Plus, the Life Lessons of violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja.
VideoVideo: Violin Makers – The Renaissance of Italian Lutherie
A 60-minute documentary featuring interviews with some of the greatest 20th-century Italian luthiers
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From the Archive: October 1950
Kenneth Warren makes a pilgrimage to Oxford to view Stradivari’s famed ‘Messiah’ violin – an undoubted highlight of the respected US violin dealer’s career
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Not Quite Cinderella: The Viola in Late-Georgian Britain
Britain during the late Georgian era was fertile ground for the viola as a serious chamber and solo instrument – and witnessed a flourishing in standards of playing and making, writes Kevin MacDonald
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The Lost Art of Cremonese Violin Archings
The old Cremonese luthiers’ method of designing violin archings has been lost in the mists of time. Andrew Dipper uses evidence from 18th-century manuals to propose how they might have done it, through a system encompassing string lengths, internal forms… and a lot of mathematics
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The Strad Calendar 2021: G.B. Guadagnini cello 1783
Formerly owned by Rostropovich, the fully arched model provides great depth of tone
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The Strad Calendar 2021: Tommaso Balestrieri violin 1759
The Balestrieri has a fine and well-preserved covering of rich red-brown varnish, which has worn softly in the manner of Cremonese recipes
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Giuseppe Ceruti: In the name of the father
The Cremonese luthier Giuseppe Ceruti is often overlooked in favour of his more famous son, Enrico. Duane Rosengard examines two matching double basses by Giuseppe to discover the secrets of his making style
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Pride of Norway: The Strad calendar 2021
The Strad’s 2021 Calendar celebrates 15 years since the start of the Dextra Musica foundation, whose instrument collection has swiftly become one of the finest in the world. Unlike many other valuable collections, these instruments are in daily use. John Dilworth highlights some of the treasures
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My Space: Violin workshops around the world
Some of the most photogenic workspaces to have graced The Strad’s pages in the past few years
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Lutherie in Mexico: Adapting to Change
The history of stringed instrument making in Mexico is one of adaptability and innovation. Pablo Alfaro and Jaime G. González show how European arts and crafts were rapidly adopted by the indigenous people, and how the 20th century saw more creativity than ever
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Ray Chen compares a $69 factory-made violin with a $10m Stradivari
’Even on the open strings you can tell the difference. The Strad has this resonance, clarity and warmth’
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Stradivari violin ‘Benecke’: Unconventional Beauty
The 1694 ‘Benecke’ violin is a masterpiece of Stradivari’s ‘Long Pattern’. Andrea Zanrè and Rudolf Hopfner take a look at this exquisite example, detailing its provenance and revealing what CT scans can tell us about its construction
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Vihuela de Arco: Unlocking the secrets of the past
A popular instrument of the Middle Ages, the vihuela de arco is only known today from contemporary references and pictures. Javier Martínez explains its significance in the history of bowed instruments, and debunks some of the myths surrounding it
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A genuine Amati or a clever fake?
Could the cello shown here be one of the eight ‘bass violins’ ordered by Catherine de’ Medici for the court of Charles IX of France? Luthier Filip Kuijken explores the known history of the instrument and considers whether it could be an original Andrea Amati – or a clever fake
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Auction report: June 2020
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, sales continued at the London auction houses in March. Kevin MacDonald gives a tour of the highlights
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In Focus: A c.1930 violin by Annibalotto Fagnola
Philip Brown examines an instrument by the Turin violin maker
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Napoleonic Bows: French Connections
Several violin, viola and cello bows still survive from the Imperial Court Orchestra of Napoleon III. Gennady Filimonov examines their history, and provides evidence that the so-called ‘Napoleonic-type bows’ originated with the first Emperor rather than the third
![4b C.W.KnopfViolaBowFerrule[12337]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/415x277//9/8/9/17989_4bc.w.knopfviolabowferrule12337_802362.jpg)
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