August 2022 issue | Pekka Kuusisto | The Strad, essential reading for the string music world since 1890

August 2022

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Cover features

'The better my body is working, the more efficient I can be' - Elena Urioste: She’s like a rainbow

The award-winning violinist Elena Urioste has many strands to her career. She speaks to Toby Deller about making her BBC Proms debut, yoga, chamber music with friends, and how she kept the music alive during lockdown

Session Report: A Precious Gift - Playing Britten’s viola

Benjamin Britten’s 19th-century viola was a present to him from Frank Bridge. Violist Hélène Clément speaks to Carlos María Solare about recording an album featuring music by both composers on which this remarkable instrument takes centre stage

Three 1734 Guarneris: Three of a kind

Reseachers based at Cremona’s Museo del Violino recently had the chance to examine three priceless violins made by Giuseppe Guarneri ‘del Gesu’ in the same year – 1734. Giacomo Fiocco explains the technical methods used to analyse the trio, and what they revealed about the surface materials and design idiosyncrasies

Revealing Sartory's secrets: A look at one of the 20th century's finest bow makers

Often called the finest bow maker of the 20th century, Eugène Sartory was a fastidious artisan whose work shows efficiency and reliability. Richard Morency examines a bow from Sartory’s middle period to reveal his working methods

Musicians and exercise: Can a keep fit regime make you a better string player?

Violinist, researcher and consultant Berenice Beverley Zammit explains how physical exercise and simulation of the live concert environment can help string players and other musicians perform more efficiently under pressure

‘Maybe the things we worry about are not the ones that matter to the music’ - Pekka Kuusisto: The Master Storyteller

Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is characterised by his unique powers of communication as well as his sense of fun. He speaks to Andrew Mellor about how his burgeoning complementary career as a conductor is opening up new musical perspectives for him