Joachim-Ma Stradivarius (12)

‘Joachim-Ma’ Stradivari violin to appear at auction, estimated at $12-18 million

2024-12-04T15:32:00+00:00

The 1714 violin from the maker’s Golden Period, that likely premiered the Brahms Violin Concerto, will be offered at auction by Sotheby’s for the first time in nearly a century

Miclen Laipang+Charles Castleman + Grégor Chapelle -(c) Virginie Nguyen MCG

US violinist Charles Castleman donates his Stradivari to Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel

2024-11-22T17:18:00+00:00

The violin from 1707 will be loaned to Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel associate artist Miclen LaiPang until the end of 2027

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BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra announces death of its leader, Laura Samuel

2024-11-22T14:28:00+00:00

The violinist had led the ensemble since 2012 and was a founding member of the Belcea Quartet

Playing Hub

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‘Planting seeds for my relationship with music’ - Hilary Hahn and the Suzuki method

2024-11-27T12:00:00+00:00

As a former Suzuki student, violinist Hilary Hahn shares her earliest memories of lessons and how they shaped her into the musician she is now

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How do you get to Carnegie Hall? The Strad chats to double bassist Nina Bernat

2024-11-27T10:09:00+00:00

Ahead of her Carnegie Hall debut on 2 December, the prize-winning double bassist speaks to The Strad about filling the space with double bass music, as well as which piece makes her want to get up and dance

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The Telegraph Quartet on performing live to a classic Buster Keaton silent film

2024-11-25T10:30:00+00:00

US correspondent Thomas May speaks with the Telegraph Quartet about their upcoming performance of Stephen Prutsman’s new score to accompany a screening of the classic Buster Keaton silent film The General.

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Postcard from Siena: Chigiana International Festival

2024-11-22T09:48:00+00:00

The star-studded 2024 Chigiana International Festival in Siena stayed true to its century-old international traditions, finds Rita Fernandes

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Celebrating South African music: the Signum Quartet

2024-11-22T09:47:00+00:00

Carlos María Solare meets the members of the Signum Quartet towards the end of their two-year-long project to commission and perform brand new works that mark 30 years since the fall of apartheid in South Africa

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Technique: Cello bowing habits

2024-12-06T08:30:00+00:00

Cellist Clara Minhye Kim on setting up sustainable and natural bowing habits

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In Focus: A 1924 violin by János Spiegel

2024-12-06T08:29:00+00:00

Zoltán Délczeg examines a 100-year-old instrument by Hungarian maker János Spiegel

©MariusBurgelman,21

Premium ❘ Focus

Postcard from Siena: Chigiana International Festival

2024-11-22T09:48:00+00:00

The star-studded 2024 Chigiana International Festival in Siena stayed true to its century-old international traditions, finds Rita Fernandes

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Sentimental Work: cellist Astrid Schween on Dvořák’s Waldesruhe

2024-11-08T09:55:53.123+00:00

For the American cellist, Dvořák’s Waldesruhe brings back fond memories of working with her early mentor, Jacqueline du Pré

Competitions

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Six violinists proceed to finals of the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition

2024-12-05T10:15:00+00:00

The finalists will perform a concerto by Prokofiev, Shostakovich or Wajnberg for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000

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Semi-finalists announced for the for the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition

2024-12-03T09:57:00+00:00

Twelve violinists have progressed for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000 as the competition takes place this week

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Winners announced at 2024 VSA instrument making competition

2024-11-22T09:53:00+00:00

Bow makers Victor Bernard and Emmanuel Carlier were named ‘hors concours’ members, while Canadian luthier Fabienne Gauchet received a double gold for quartet - for the second time

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Competitions, Awards and Appointments: December 2024

2024-11-15T09:43:01.5+00:00

The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests

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Premiere of the Month: Mark Simpson’s new viola concerto for Timothy Ridout

2024-11-15T09:43:00+00:00

A viola concerto full of struggle yet fearlessness

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The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw

2024-09-19T09:05:00+01:00

The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher

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The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang

2024-09-12T08:49:00+01:00

The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series

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The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet

2024-09-05T09:47:00+01:00

‘We should live in a chamber music world’ - the violinist speaks about the importance of collaboration inside and outside of the practice room, in the second episode of our four-part education-themed podcast series

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The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen

2024-08-29T10:06:00+01:00

The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star

Competitions

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Six violinists proceed to finals of the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition

2024-12-05T10:15:00+00:00

The finalists will perform a concerto by Prokofiev, Shostakovich or Wajnberg for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000

468658360_921318576758225_7383715542681020122_n

Semi-finalists announced for the for the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition

2024-12-03T09:57:00+00:00

Twelve violinists have progressed for the chance to win the top prize of €10,000 as the competition takes place this week

00 Bernard and Carlier

Winners announced at 2024 VSA instrument making competition

2024-11-22T09:53:00+00:00

Bow makers Victor Bernard and Emmanuel Carlier were named ‘hors concours’ members, while Canadian luthier Fabienne Gauchet received a double gold for quartet - for the second time

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The Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty: an exclusive close-up look at the family’s output

2024-12-06T08:32:00+00:00By

In the December 2024 issue, Gennady Filimonov tells the story of the Weidhaas and Finkel bow making families. Here he examines several bows by three of the dynasty’s best-known archetiers

Spiegel front full

In Focus: A 1924 violin by János Spiegel

2024-12-06T08:29:00+00:00

Zoltán Délczeg examines a 100-year-old instrument by Hungarian maker János Spiegel

Main

My Space: Mensur Avdić’s Tuzla workshop

2024-12-06T08:28:00+00:00

The maker presents his workshop in Bosnia & Herzegovina

1715 Windsor Weinstein Stradivari violin

The Strad Calendar 2025: 1717 ‘Windsor, Weinstein’ Stradivari violin

2024-12-03T10:11:00+00:00By

The first Stradivari violin to be given to the Canada Council’s Musical Instrument Bank, it remains in top-class condition

Daniela Finkel in her workshop

Five generations of the Weidhaas–Finkel bow making dynasty

2024-11-29T06:44:00+00:00

Gennady Filimonov continues his survey of the great 20th-century German bow makers with a look at the Weidhaas–Finkel dynasty, which now boasts five generations in the profession

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Making Matters: Speed of sound in bow wood

2024-11-29T06:44:00+00:00

Why is it that a violin’s sound quality can change so radically with a different bow? Massimo Lucchi explains the principle behind the speed of sound in bow wood

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Festival review: Rosendal Festival

2024-11-15T09:43:57.523+00:00By

Harriet Smith finds that rain certainly didn’t stop play at Leif Ove Andsnes’s inspiring annual Norwegian gathering from 7–11 August 2024

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Concert review: Ava Bahari (violin) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali

2024-11-15T09:43:54.293+00:00By

Andrew Mellor attends the performance of at Malmö Live Concert Hall in Sweden on 13 September 2024

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Concert review: New York Philharmonic Ensembles

2024-11-15T09:43:47.233+00:00By

Leah Hollingsworth visits New York’s Merkin Concert Hall for the peformance of on 29 September 2024

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Diotima Quartet: Bruckner, Klose

2024-12-06T08:00:00+00:00By

A master of the symphony turns inward to fine effect

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Niek Baar: Bruch, Schumann

2024-12-06T08:00:00+00:00By

An unorthodox pairing proves compelling

Beethoven Schwabe

Gabriel Schwabe: Beethoven

2024-12-06T08:00:00+00:00By

Newcomers to a crowded field enjoy partial success

Boccherini

Book review: Luigi Boccherini: Musica Amorosa

2024-11-08T09:55:33.853+00:00By

Robin Stowell reviews Babette Kaiserkern’s treatise on the Baroque composer’s life and works, translated into English for the first time

Expressive Violin Technique

Book review: Expressive Violin Technique: How to Teach and Acquire It

2024-11-08T09:55:28.96+00:00By

Celia Cobb explores Bruce Douglas Berg’s method to help intermediate to advanced players and teachers ‘combine expression with technique’

Thumb Position

Book review: Thumb Position

2024-09-27T08:47:00+01:00By

Caroline Emery reviews double bass tutor Charlotte Mohrs’s introduction to playing in thumb position, published in English for the first time

Debate

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Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee

2024-12-06T08:31:00+00:00

When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent

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Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order

2024-11-01T09:42:00+00:00

While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit

Debate

GettyImages-954069476

Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee

2024-12-06T08:31:00+00:00

When issues arise that aren’t easily solved during lesson time, cellist and teacher Naomi Yandell finds that taking a pupil’s parent or guardian out for a coffee and a chat on neutral territory can be time well spent

GettyImages-118984026

Opinion: Practising scales in sequential order

2024-11-01T09:42:00+00:00

While most string players agree that scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks for good technique, cellist Robert Jesselson says that it’s essential to practise them sequentially to gain the maximum benefit

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