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Interpreting Dvořák vs. Mozart — a technical perspective for violinists
Embracing the wild: how Joanna Borrett’s new book introduces Celtic-style tunes to beginners
Chatter: Making music for the masses
String stars shine all summer long in the 2025 BBC Proms line-up
Violinist Curtis Stewart on making music: by serving others, I am serving myself
LA police recover a stolen 331-year-old Grancino violin, worth $650k
The violin was reported stolen from a University of Southern California graduate music student on 2 April and recovered just over one week later
Violin of the Sea: the violin made from the wood of migrant boats blessed by Pope Francis
The late leader of the Catholic church blessed the Violino del Mare in 2022, which was made by Italian prisoners to raise awareness of the plight of refugees crossing the Mediterranean
Leading Canadian-born cellist Christian Elliott has died
Elliott was cellist with the Zehetmair Quartet and former principal cello of the Irish Chamber Orchestra
Playing Hub
Interpreting Dvořák vs. Mozart — a technical perspective for violinists
Grace Park provides a mini masterclass on how violinists can bring to life to the stylistic and musical qualities of the two seemingly opposite composers
Embracing the wild: how Joanna Borrett’s new book introduces Celtic-style tunes to beginners
Composer and cellist Joanna Borrett talks about her new beginner book, Wild Cello, which introduces folk tunes, special effects and improvisation to learners, ahead of its publication on 25 April
Chatter: Making music for the masses
Richard Linnett explores Chatter, an ensemble providing ‘sonic mass’ in Albuquerque, founded and directed by concertmaster of the Santa Fe Symphony, David Felberg
Violinist Curtis Stewart on making music: by serving others, I am serving myself
The violinist and composer speaks about his new project Seasons of Change, which reimagines Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with theatre and audience connectivity, in an exploration of climate change and its effects on humanity
Witness and memory: Kronos Quartet and Mary Kouyoumdjian give voice to the silenced
Marking Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day with the portrait album WITNESS, composer Mary Kouyoumdjian and Kronos Quartet’s David Harrington reflect on their decade-long collaboration – and music’s power to grapple with difficult themes.
Composer Michael Stimpson: how my time in ICU inspired a work for cello and piano
Composer Michael Stimpson tells a story of survival through the recording release of his work Tales from the 15th Floor, ahead of a live performance in aid of the spinal injury charity, Horatio’s Garden
Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: A 1753 viola by Carlo Antonio Testore
Sean Bishop takes a look at a relatively rare example of an 18th-century Italian viola
Premium ❘ Feature
George 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
Premium ❘ Feature
In Focus: A 1753 viola by Carlo Antonio Testore
Sean Bishop takes a look at a relatively rare example of an 18th-century Italian viola
Premium ❘ Focus
Sentimental 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
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
Competitions
2025 Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition winners announced
Violinist Alette Williams, 15, receives the first prize of $5,000 and a concert engagement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Winners announced for the 2025 Victoria ‘BCN’ International Violin Competition
Held from 18 to 20 April in Barcelona, the winners received a masterclass opportunity with Maxim Vengerov, plus cash and future performances
Winners announced for the 2025 Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition
Eight categories of young violinists and chamber groups contested for numerous cash and product prizes at the competition’s final, held on 19 April 2025
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Avner Dorman’s new double concerto for Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony
Bach and the Book of Ecclesiastes shape a new double violin concerto
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto no.3 in B minor, first movement
Violinist Benjamin Beilman explores how to navigate the athletic virtuosity of a work that requires the soloist to have firm technical and musical command
Masterclass: Schumann Five Pieces in Folk Style op.102, first piece
Cellist Trey Lee shares how a particular painting in London’s National Gallery provided his inspiration for this movement, which can be seen as a metaphor for life
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto no.3 in B minor, first movement
Violinist Benjamin Beilman explores how to navigate the athletic virtuosity of a work that requires the soloist to have firm technical and musical command
Masterclass: Schumann Five Pieces in Folk Style op.102, first piece
Cellist Trey Lee shares how a particular painting in London’s National Gallery provided his inspiration for this movement, which can be seen as a metaphor for life
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
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘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
The Strad Podcast: How to practise effectively with violinist Ray Chen
The first in our new four-part education themed podcast series features our September 2024 cover star
The Strad Podcast: How to tailor the Suzuki Method to different students with violinist Meghan Faw
The violinist shares her personal experiences with the method as both a student and a teacher
The Strad Podcast: How to hold a masterclass with violinist Paul Huang
The violinist speaks about his teaching approaches in a unique learning experience, in the third part of our four-part education-themed podcast series
The Strad Podcast: How to teach collaborative skills with violinist Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet
‘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
Competitions
2025 Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition winners announced
Violinist Alette Williams, 15, receives the first prize of $5,000 and a concert engagement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Winners announced for the 2025 Victoria ‘BCN’ International Violin Competition
Held from 18 to 20 April in Barcelona, the winners received a masterclass opportunity with Maxim Vengerov, plus cash and future performances
Winners announced for the 2025 Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition
Eight categories of young violinists and chamber groups contested for numerous cash and product prizes at the competition’s final, held on 19 April 2025
Yevgeny Kutik performs Dvořák’s ‘Going Home’ for solo violin
Who needs the full symphony orchestra when you can play the whole thing on one violin?
Yevgeny Kutik performs Dvořák’s ‘Going Home’ for solo violin
‘More powerful and relevant than ever’ - violinist Charles Yang performs a moving encore
Anzû Quartet performs Ken Thomson’s ‘Uneasy’
New video: Abel Selaocoe performs Takamba
Violin x gaming: Esther Abrami performs music from Final Fantasy XV
Ariel Quartet performs Beethoven String Quartet op.18, no.5
New video: ‘Dear Mountains’ by Karen Ouzounian and Lembit Beecher
Bryan Cheng performs Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto no.1
Jack Liebeck and Alexander Sitkovetsky chat about Arnold’s double violin concerto
Cellist Philipp Schupelius performs an improv-inspired cadenza
- Previous
- Next
In Focus: A 1753 viola by Carlo Antonio Testore
Sean Bishop takes a look at a relatively rare example of an 18th-century Italian viola
Leading the way: the ‘Baron d’Erlanger’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin 1732
Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ made the 1732 ‘Baron d’Erlanger’ violin near the start of his most productive period. Florian Leonhard explores how it shows the maker’s early style and reveals the history of its most famous owner
‘To my surprise I found it to be a splendid Strad’ - From the Archive: April 1925
In his recently published memoir, the Scottish instrument dealer David Laurie (1833–97) recalls finding a Stradivari cello in the attic of one of his friends, and obtaining it for a song
In Focus: A 1923 violin by Michael Dötsch
Rainer Michael Cocron examines an early 20th-century instrument by the German maker
Dual accomplishments: the makers of Markneukirchen
The workshops of Markneukirchen and its environs made thousands of violins per year – but many were crafted by true artisans. Bruce Babbitt explains how these violins became the basis for a new book and exhibition charting their evolution
Trade secrets: External crack repair using silk
Sharon Que provides an innovative solution to a common – and tricky – repair problem
In Focus: A 1753 viola by Carlo Antonio Testore
Sean Bishop takes a look at a relatively rare example of an 18th-century Italian viola
Leading the way: the ‘Baron d’Erlanger’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin 1732
Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ made the 1732 ‘Baron d’Erlanger’ violin near the start of his most productive period. Florian Leonhard explores how it shows the maker’s early style and reveals the history of its most famous owner
‘To my surprise I found it to be a splendid Strad’ - From the Archive: April 1925
In his recently published memoir, the Scottish instrument dealer David Laurie (1833–97) recalls finding a Stradivari cello in the attic of one of his friends, and obtaining it for a song
In Focus: A 1923 violin by Michael Dötsch
Rainer Michael Cocron examines an early 20th-century instrument by the German maker
Dual accomplishments: the makers of Markneukirchen
The workshops of Markneukirchen and its environs made thousands of violins per year – but many were crafted by true artisans. Bruce Babbitt explains how these violins became the basis for a new book and exhibition charting their evolution
Trade secrets: External crack repair using silk
Sharon Que provides an innovative solution to a common – and tricky – repair problem
Concert review: Owls, Claire Chase (flute)
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Wiancko, Barber, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and Terry Riley at 92NY, Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, on 8 February 2025
Concert review: Hilary Hahn (violin) Amaryn Olmeda (violin) Seth Parker Woods (cello) Conor Hanick (piano) Tiler Peck (choreographer, ballerina) India Bradley, Roman Mejia (dancers)
Leah Hollingsworth watches an innovative balletic performance with music by Max Richter, Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, Ysaÿe and Bach at the Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, New York, on 27 February 2025
Concert review: Steven Isserlis (cello) Connie Shih (piano)
Bruce Hodges attends a performance of Beethoven, Martinů, Nadia Boulanger, Grieg and Fauré at the Perelman Theater, Philadelphia, PA, US, on 10 February 2025
James Ehnes: Bach
A complete Bach traversal proves something of a mixed bag
Liza Ferschtman: Brahms, Suk
Familiar and unfamiliar combine in powerfully emotional performances
Lawrence Power, Alban Gerhardt: Brett Dean
A milestone set of live recordings does justice to a leading Australian
Book review: Bach Cello Suites BWV1007–1012
Jeffrey Solow reviews a new edition of the legendary suites edited by cellist Jonas Seeberg
Book review: Songs My Mother Never Taught Me
Nathaniel Vallois reviews violinist Nigel Kennedy’s first book of compositions
Book review: Cello Notes: Music and the Urgency of Time
Janet Banks reads Mavis Himes’s account of taking up the cello as a beginner in her late sixties
Debate
Opinion: 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
Opinion: 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
Debate
Opinion: 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
Opinion: 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
Accessories
Products April 2025: Digitaize Strings Module
New technology that digitises a violin in real time
Products April 2025: Thomastik-Infeld rosin
A new rosin with an extra boost
Products April 2025: Negri Vulcano case
A new colourful range from Negri for violin, viola and cello
Concert review: Owls, Claire Chase (flute)
Leah Hollingsworth hears the performance of Wiancko, Barber, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and Terry Riley at 92NY, Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, on 8 February 2025
Concert review: Hilary Hahn (violin) Amaryn Olmeda (violin) Seth Parker Woods (cello) Conor Hanick (piano) Tiler Peck (choreographer, ballerina) India Bradley, Roman Mejia (dancers)
Leah Hollingsworth watches an innovative balletic performance with music by Max Richter, Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, Ysaÿe and Bach at the Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, New York, on 27 February 2025
Concert review: Steven Isserlis (cello) Connie Shih (piano)
Bruce Hodges attends a performance of Beethoven, Martinů, Nadia Boulanger, Grieg and Fauré at the Perelman Theater, Philadelphia, PA, US, on 10 February 2025
Book review: Bach Cello Suites BWV1007–1012
Jeffrey Solow reviews a new edition of the legendary suites edited by cellist Jonas Seeberg
Book review: Songs My Mother Never Taught Me
Nathaniel Vallois reviews violinist Nigel Kennedy’s first book of compositions
Book review: Cello Notes: Music and the Urgency of Time
Janet Banks reads Mavis Himes’s account of taking up the cello as a beginner in her late sixties
James Ehnes: Bach
A complete Bach traversal proves something of a mixed bag
Liza Ferschtman: Brahms, Suk
Familiar and unfamiliar combine in powerfully emotional performances
Lawrence Power, Alban Gerhardt: Brett Dean
A milestone set of live recordings does justice to a leading Australian
Artists
Great violinists: Yehudi Menuhin
Julian Haylock examines the player whose openness and sincerity gave even lighter music a profound emotional resonance
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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