Playing
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Premium ❘ FeatureStill making waves: the Australian Chamber Orchestra
As the Australian Chamber Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary, Michael White speaks to its long-time artistic director Richard Tognetti about its unique place in the musical world
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Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Svalbard: Arctic Chamber Music Festival
The Arctic Chamber Music Festival takes place in the world’s most northerly town, Longyearbyen. Emma Baker travelled there to sample its unique atmosphere
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe power of three: the string trio
Jacqueline Vanasse explores the unique properties of the string trio, delving into its history and repertoire with the guidance of some of today’s top trio players
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Premium ❘ Focus‘Curiosity is at the core of human nature’ - Roberto Díaz’s life lessons
The US–Chilean violist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music discusses the importance of technique and curiosity
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Premium ❘ Feature‘We hope this unjust penalising of ’cellists will disappear’ - From the archive: May 1925
Not planes but trains: a century ago, cellists were up in arms about railway operators charging extra to allow instruments on board. Pedagogue Carl Fuchs reveals the result of the latest petition
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Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Alina Ibragimova on Schumann’s Violin Sonata no.2
For the Russian–British violinist, Schumann’s Violin Sonata no.2 may be exhausting but rewards listeners with a profound insight into the composer’s deepest soul
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: cellist Zlatomir Fung on recording operatic fantasies for his debut album
For his debut album, US cellist Zlatomir Fung has delved into the world of the operatic fantasy – a relative rarity on the instrument. He speaks to Peter Quantrill about how making the recording has revealed new aspects of his musical personality
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Premium ❘ FeatureGeorge Enescu: a musical polymath
Tully Potter explores the rich and colourful life of George Enescu, the extraordinary Romanian violinist, composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue, who died 70 years ago
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Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’
Violinist and teacher Alun Thomas explains why, when working on our technique and expression, string players should focus much more attention to the right arm than we might at first imagine
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Premium ❘ ArticleAnalysis May 2025: Dealing with concert cancellations
One of the main problems for venues and promoters is what to do when an artist cancels at the last minute. How can they best appease their audiences? Peter Somerford investigates
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Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Gateshead: Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions
Tully Potter attended the 2025 editions of the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions – held for the first time under one roof in the north-east of England – and he couldn’t fault the results
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Premium ❘ FeaturePhilippe Quint: a time of change
US violinist Philippe Quint speaks to Rita Fernandes about his deeply personal new album Milestones, which represents a turning point in his career
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Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Frank Peter Zimmermann on Schumann’s Violin Concerto
Although the German violinist came late to Schumann, the Violin Concerto remains one of his repertoire staples – and provides an insight into the composer’s fraught mental state
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Premium ❘ FeatureAdvice from peers: sharing the wisdom
Charlotte Gardner speaks to leading string players who have learnt valuable lessons from their colleagues and contemporaries, demonstrating that such insights are not only passed from teacher to pupil
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: the London Handel Players on recording Telemann’s ‘Paris’ Quartets
As part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, the London Handel Players has recorded six of Telemann’s ‘Paris’ Quartets. Robin Stowell speaks to two of the ensemble’s members about bringing the dance elements in the music to life
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Premium ❘ Focus‘Always be truthful and loyal to yourself’ - Maximilian Hornung’s life lessons
The German cellist on his varying influences and what it takes to be a musician
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Premium ❘ ArticleAnalysis April 2025: Changes for German freelance tutors
As music schools in Germany react to a government decision on freelance tutors, what are the ramifications for budgets, students and teaching bodies?
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Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: The importance of repetition in teaching
In the practice of teaching, the value and beauty of repetition must always be encouraged, says violinist and pioneering Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner
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Premium ❘ FeatureFrom screen to strings: concert works by screen composers
Rita Fernandes presents a curated list of string works by ten composers best known for their screen work, as well as interviews with composers and players
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolinist Arabella Steinbacher: angels and demons
Pauline Harding hears from the German violinist about her cathartic journey into the darkest depths and brightest heights of Lentz’s Violin Concerto, its pairing with Beethoven on her latest recording and the impact of motherhood on music making
