All Playing articles
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Premium ❘ FeatureCreation and evolution: Manchester Collective
Manchester Collective is an ensemble that doesn’t shy away from either transporting its listeners to unexpected places, or embracing change within its own identity. Members including co‑founder and violinist Rakhi Singh talk to David Kettle about the group’s unique philosophy
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Premium ❘ Feature'Your own voice must be in charge': Creating an improvised violin concerto
Can a new work encourage young, classically trained string players to lose their fear of improvisation and find their individual voice? Violinist Christina Åstrand and composer Signe Lykke explain the concept to Andrew Mellor
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Premium ❘ FeatureLaurence Lesser: the making of a cellist
Having recently celebrated his 85th birthday, cellist and pedagogue Laurence Lesser looks back on his formative influences and recalls some of the iconic 20th-century musicians he worked with
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Premium ❘ FeatureAll-female string quartets after the First World War
In the second and final part of his survey, Tully Potter reveals the extent of the explosion of all-female quartets that occurred after the First World War in the UK, Europe, the US and the Soviet Union, as well as notable mixed ones
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Premium ❘ FeatureCellist Zlatomir Fung: ‘Our mission is to get that one-to-one connection’
With a string of competition wins to his name and debuts with major orchestras in 2024, Zlatomir Fung is a young cellist to watch. Amanda Holloway speaks to him about what inspires him and keeps him grounded
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Premium ❘ FeatureInheriting others’ pupils: a fresh start
Taking on other people’s ex-pupils can be a tricky business – especially when they come with ingrained unhealthy habits. Focusing on upper strings, Alun Thomas outlines what may need to be addressed to make progress
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Premium ❘ FeatureKronos Quartet at 50: Hunger for the new
Kronos Quartet has been at the vanguard of contemporary string quartet performance for 50 years. Founder David Harrington and former cellist Joan Jeanrenaud speak with Thomas May about the legacy of innovation that the ensemble is celebrating with an ambitious series of projects this season
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Premium ❘ Feature'When someone is healthy inside, it sounds that way' - Mental health services in conservatoires
Rita Fernandes hears from administrators, counsellors and teachers from music schools about what defines a successful conservatoire mental health support system
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Premium ❘ FeatureFinding the right bow: A marriage made in heaven
A string player can miss out on the full potential of their instrument if they don’t find the perfect bow to go with it. A host of players and bow makers share their experiences with Jacqueline Vanasse and lend advice on the process of searching for the right bow
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Premium ❘ Feature‘Find someone who’s like-hearted’ - Changes within string quartets
Peter Quantrill speaks to string quartet players who have survived, and even thrived under membership change
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Premium ❘ FeatureFiddler Mark O’Connor: An American music story
Fiddle player Mark O’Connor, one of the most influential musicians in the American tradition, talks about his extraordinary life
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FeatureSentimental Work: Anne-Sophie Mutter on Penderecki’s Metamorphosen
Interviewed for The Strad August 2018, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter discusses Penderecki’s Second Violin Concerto, a work that harbours undiscovered secrets
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FeatureSentimental Work: Julia Fischer on Bach Double Violin Concerto
Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins BWV1043 has been one of the German violinist’s constant companions – and is still a rich learning experience with each performance
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Premium ❘ Feature‘The voice of a generation’ - Young Ukrainian musicians: Fighting for the future
Rita Fernandes looks at some of the programmes that have been helping to ensure a bright future for the Ukrainian music scene when the conflict ends
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe blind string player: Stepping out of the shadows
Myra Ross writes about her experience as a blind string player
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic: Better by the dozen
Katinka Welz speaks to members of the ensemble about its history and popularity
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Article‘My whole person was struck by extraordinary tones’: G.B. Viotti on the ‘Ranz des Vaches’
In the March 2023 issue, violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved discusses his love for this short piece by Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755–1824).
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VideoPeter Sheppard Skærved gives an open-air performance of Viotti’s Ranz des Vaches
The British violinist chose the piece as his Sentimental Work for the March 2023 issue
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Premium ❘ Feature‘We learnt from her a love and respect for music’ - cellist Natalia Shakhovskaya
Oskar Falta examines Natalia Shakhovskaya’s life and hears from some of her former pupils about her exacting teaching style
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Premium ❘ Feature‘I’m always looking for something new’ - Midori: In love with music
Thomas May discovers how Midori’s remarkable range of commitments reflects her belief in art’s power to transform