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- We celebrate the centenary of the great American violinist Isaac Stern with a closer look at his chamber music performances and recordings. Plus more.
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Historical
Video
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
Current issue
July
We celebrate the centenary of the great American violinist Isaac Stern with a closer look at his chamber music performances and recordings. There’s an in-depth examination of the 1694 ‘Benecke’ Stradivari violin – an exceptional example of the master’s ‘Long Pattern’ period. Plus, leading soloists talk about writing their own cadenzas.
Premium ❘ FeatureVihuela 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
- Focus
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
- Premium ❘ Article
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
- Premium ❘ Feature
An Amati Mystery
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
- Focus
We are living in a golden age of violin making - but where do we go from here?
Philip Kass takes stock of the violin making industry, and identifies highlights and challenges - aside from the current threat posed by Covid-19
- Article
Tabea Zimmermann on playing Beethoven’s viola
The German violist speaks to Amanda Holloway about recording on the historic instrument in The Strad’s May 2020 issue
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Baroque Set-up: In a Land without Rules
With the growth in popularity of historically informed performance, more players are requesting Baroque-style instruments – but the process of converting an instrument is fraught with uncertainty. Sarah Peck presents an overview of the Baroque set-up process, and corrects some common misconceptions along the way
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In Focus: A 1704 cello by Barak Norman
Colin Adamson and Benjamin Hebbert examine an instrument by the English maker
- Focus
Anne-Sophie Mutter on fine and contemporary instruments
The Strad’s April issue cover star discusses performing on her own Strads and on newer violins
- Video
An interview with luthier Renato Scrollavezza
The violin maker, who died in 2019, was one of the leading figures of Italian violin making in the 20th century
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In Focus: An 1804 Viola by Joseph Fischer
Roland Baumgartner examines an instrument by the German maker
- Article
Deconstructing the Andrea Amati ‘King’ cello
In an article from June 2015, Matthew Zeller examines five centuries of alterations made to the world’s oldest cello, housed at the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, and asks what they reveal about the evolution and development of the standard cello form
- Article
In Focus: a 1786 cello by Jacques Pierre Michelot
John Dilworth examines a hastily built but robust 1786 French cello, with photos by Richard Valencia, in an article from September 2005
- Article
In Focus: a 1693 cello by Giovanni Grancino
Ed Keohane examines an instrument by the Milanese maker, with photos by Richard Valencia, in an article from January 2007
- Article
In Focus: an 1817 cello by Giacomo Rivolta
Christopher Reuning examines an insturment by the Novara-born maker, with photos by Matthew Tolzmann, in an article from February 2007
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Lutherie in the Vogtland: Stars of the East
The Vogtland in eastern Germany produced some of the country’s least known and most fascinating instrument makers.Rudolf Hopfner and Monika Lustig use CT scans to lift the lid on their unusual construction methods, and show why they should be more widely studied
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Pöpel and Kurzendörffer: The Mists of Time Demystified
Just three Vogtland instruments exist from before 1700. All violas, they were made by two of the founders of the region’s first violin making guild.Klaus Martius explores what we know about the mysterious Johann Adam Pöpel and Johann Adam Kurzendörffer
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Bach on a 1659 Andrea Guarneri
In this video the violinist Federico Guglielmo plays Bach on a 1659 Andrea Guarneri.
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