February 2025

We talk to the members of the Attacca Quartet, while Nigel Kennedy discusses his latest foray into composition. There’s a look at the work of Polish luthier Ladislaus Baczyński and the bows of Charles Nicolas Bazin. Plus David Finckel’s views on teaching chamber music and Glenn Dicterow’s Sentimental Work.

February 2025 Cover

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From this month's magazine

‘It’s about spending time with the music’: the Attacca Quartet

The Attacca Quartet is about to release its first recording of Ravel’s String Quartet in F major, closing the circle on the ensemble’s career so far. George Grella hears from the four musicians about why they are drawn to that composer, and about their repertoire choices, influences and working methods

‘Master of the violin, artist of the soul’: Władysław Baczyński

Władysław Baczyński overcame a life of tragedy to become one of Poland’s most highly regarded 20th-century violin makers. Grzegorz Kaproń tells his story

Nigel Kennedy: the real thing

Nigel Kennedy is still often viewed as the bad boy of the violin, but he reveals his thoughtful, straight-talking nature as he chats with Harry White about equality, education and his recent forays into original composition

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Dance of the swans: the bows of Charles Nicolas Bazin

The Tourte-model bows by Charles Nicolas Bazin represent the pinnacle of elegance and refinement in the history of French bow making. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the swan-head model, Richard Morency examines some of the finest examples

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Masterclass: Ravel Piano Trio, first movement

Keeping in mind Ravel’s orchestral sound palette is key to letting colour direct the myriad character and mood changes in this lilting movement, says cellist Carrie Bean Stute

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Postcard from Bucharest: George Enescu International Competition

The long-running George Enescu Competition has now very much proved its mettle amid the international circuit, as Rita Fernandes discovers

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In Focus: 1877 double bass by Gand & Bernardel

René Zaal examines the Parisian violin making house’s 19th-century bass

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My Space: Russell Stowe’s Woodbridge workshop

The maker presents his Suffolk atelier

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Dinner with Kreisler: the Kreisler 150th anniversary

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Austrian virtuoso violinist’s birth on 2 February 1875, long-time fan Ariane Todes imagines a dinner-party conversation with her hero, based on documentary evidence and accounts by his contemporaries

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Opinion: Making the most out of chamber music coaching

Playing chamber music well is the most valuable, and demanding, lesson for both string students and their teachers, says cellist David Finckel. He shares his own wealth of experience for making the most of coaching sessions

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Analysis February 2024: Star string players targeted online

Some of the world’s top string players have become targets for online scammers – and it doesn’t stop there. What steps should all musicians take to help protect their fanbase?

Session report (2)

Session Report: Timothy Ridout on recording a new solo album

As violist Timothy Ridout makes his first foray into recording alone, he and his producer Andrew Keener tell Davina Shum about the process of setting down music by Bach, Britten, Shaw and Telemann

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Technique: Creating core in your viola sound

Jeanne-Louise Moolman shares tips on how to create a sound with core on the viola

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Sentimental Work: Glenn Dicterow on Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’

The New York Philharmonic’s former concertmaster recalls how he first learnt the solo part of Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s ‘Symposium’ before a national tour with the composer conducting