Playing – Page 2
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Postcard from Germany: Heidelberg String Quartet Festival
Carlos María Solare joined the loyal audience at Heidelberg’s String Quartet Festival, which celebrated both its 20th anniversary and the upcoming 90th birthday of composer Helmut Lachenmann
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Violinist James Ehnes: an exclusive profile from The Strad’s archive, November 2007
Charismatic, honest, self-critical, and with an amazingly relaxed approach to performing, the Canadian virtuoso charms Michael Quinn in this archive interview from The Strad’s November 2007 issue
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Sentimental Work: Fabio Biondi on Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette
Discovering Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette was a pivotal moment in the Italian violinist–conductor’s path to understanding the world of 19th-century Romanticism
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‘They never seemed quite to forgive each other’ - From the archive: March 1915
The somewhat irascible Belgian cellist Ernest de Munck, who passed away on 19 January 1915, is remembered by his student Dora Petherick
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Cellist Zara Nelsova: A sound from a dream
The Canadian-born cellist Zara Nelsova was a fierce advocate for the repertoire she loved and for four decades an inspirational teacher at the Juilliard School. Oskar Falta explores her life and remarkable career, and hears from some of the musicians who studied with her
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‘You have to feel you’re worthy of standing on stage’ - Julia Fischer’s life lessons
The German violinist on her influences and navigating today’s challenges
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Session Report: Violinist Liya Petrova on recording Korngold and Strauss
Bulgarian violinist Liya Petrova tells Emma Baker about how her new album pairing Korngold’s Violin Concerto with Richard Strauss’s Violin Sonata came into being, and about striving for a sense of spontaneity
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Opinion: Embracing diversity in string teaching
Having made the difficult journey from an unbending conservatoire education to a fulfilling career playing and teaching non-classical styles, French violinist Scott Tixier says it’s essential to embrace diversity in music education
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Analysis March 2025: How string music education is continuing in Ukraine
As the Russia–Ukraine war continues, how are string music educators managing to continue their efforts to train the next generation of musicians?
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Violinist James Ehnes: A journey with Bach
Canadian violinist James Ehnes combines his virtuosity and musical intelligence as he takes a deep dive into the Bach violin concertos – both extant and reconstructed. He speaks to Thomas May about this latest chapter in his multifaceted career
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Out of the shadows: violin pedagogue D.C. Dounis
The Greek-born violinist and mandolinist D.C. Dounis was one of the most influential pedagogues of the 20th century, but his life and works still remain shrouded in mystery. Clifford Hall investigates why
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Postcard from Hanover: Joseph Joachim Violin Competition
At the 2024 edition of the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition, Charlotte Gardner was treated to a masterclass in how a music contest can give its candidates a wholly positive experience
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‘Make mistakes to find your own musical path’ - Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt’s life lessons
The German cellist and pedagogue recalls his own mentors and reflects on the necessity of taking chances
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‘Ysaÿe’s pictures are tone paintings’ - From the archive: February 1905
US correspondent Edith L. Winn describes a stateside performance by Eugène Ysaÿe in prose so effusive that even the virtuoso would blush
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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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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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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 2025: 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?
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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