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String players shine in inaugural Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach rising artists cohort
The healing power of the cello: four adult learners share their stories of overcoming adversity
German luthier Wilhelm Brückner has died
Aeolus Quartet appoints new first violinist
Leonhard Baumgartner loaned 1683 ‘ex Petherick’ Stradivari violin
Leonhard Baumgartner loaned 1683 ‘ex Petherick’ Stradivari violin
The 17-year-old says he is ’thrilled to bring the voice of this extraordinary instrument to life’
Bras, travel woes, Olympian string players, and the end of TwoSet Violin: The Strad 2024 news round-up
We take a look at a selection of news stories from 2024 that put string players in headlines, often in unexpected ways
Finnish violinist Eriikka Maalismaa has died
The former concertmaster of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra was 44
Playing Hub
Sentimental Work: Anne Gastinel on Dutilleux’s 3 Strophes sur le nom de Paul Sacher
The French cellist was captivated by Dutilleux’s 3 Strophes sur le nom de Paul Sacher from the first hearing; and it also provided an opportunity to meet the composer
Opinion: AI vs live performance?
Even with the proliferation of technology such as generative AI in the music industry, violist Toby Deller believes there will always be a strong human need to experience live performance
‘A powerful sound’: what it’s like to perform with Yo-Yo Ma and the Czech Philharmonic
As part of a Royal Academy of Music SIDE-BY-SIDE scheme, the Zenith Quartet was given the chance to tour with the Czech orchestra and Semyon Bychkov. Cellist Julius Maknickas chronicles his experience during the tour’s New York City portion, where he fulfilled a lifelong dream of meeting a musical idol
‘Deep investment in people goes far’: How the artist collective Ilumina creates a musical eco-system
Online editor Davina Shum previously described a performance by Ilumina unlike any concert she’d attended before – why? She speaks to the initiative’s founder, violist Jennifer Stumm, about the Ilumina’s ethos and motivation ahead of its tenth anniversary in January 2025
The legacy of a legend: Jacqueline du Pré tribute
The impact of British cellist Jacqueline du Pré’s towering talent continues to endure, despite her cruelly short career. To mark 80 years since her birth on 26 January 1945, several prominent string soloists speak about the influence her playing has had on their own music making
Postcard from Lesbos: Molyvos International Music Festival
On the Greek island of Lesbos, the Molyvos International Music Festival offers live chamber music to a diverse international audience, as Claire Jackson discovered
Premium ❘ Feature
A life of unimaginable possibility: the story of Jacqueline du Pré’s grandmother
What was the source of Jacqueline du Pré’s genius? To mark what would have been the great cellist’s 80th birthday on 26 January 2025, her sister Hilary Finzi tells the exclusive, extended life story of their grandmother Maud Victoria Greep, who overcame childhood poverty to give her daughter and granddaughter ...
Premium ❘ Feature
Session Report: Baroque violinist Davina Clarke on The Art of Obligato
Baroque violinist Davina Clarke speaks to Harry White about her new album, The Art of Obligato, which explores the intricate interplay between vocal and instrumental lines in Bach’s sacred cantatas
Premium ❘ Feature
A life of unimaginable possibility: the story of Jacqueline du Pré’s grandmother
What was the source of Jacqueline du Pré’s genius? To mark what would have been the great cellist’s 80th birthday on 26 January 2025, her sister Hilary Finzi tells the exclusive, extended life story of their grandmother Maud Victoria Greep, who overcame childhood poverty to give her daughter and granddaughter ...
Premium ❘ Focus
Postcard from Lesbos: Molyvos International Music Festival
On the Greek island of Lesbos, the Molyvos International Music Festival offers live chamber music to a diverse international audience, as Claire Jackson discovered
Premium ❘ Focus
Auction Report January 2025: The nice and the good
Kevin MacDonald finds a wealth of interesting lots at the October sales in London, from fine old Italians to a fiddle by a Cumbrian farmer
Competitions
Elster Trio wins the Polytechnical Society eV Chamber Music prize
The Frankfurt-based ensemble receives €5,000
Winners announced for New Zealand’s 2024 National String Competition
14-year-old violinist Hayden Chiu receives NZ$5,000 and performance opportunities
Winners announced at the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Romanian violinist Iohan Coman received the €10,000 first prize
Premium ❘ News
Premiere of the Month: Donghoon Shin’s new viola concerto for Amihai Grosz
D flat major forms the basis of a new viola concerto
Premium ❘ News
Competitions, Awards and Appointments: January 2025
The latest competition results, appointments and forthcoming contests
Masterclass: Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ String Quartet, second movement
Violist of the Kuss Quartet William Coleman emphasises the importance of creating a narrative arc in this movement, which encompasses a journey of emotional ambivalence
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ String Quartet, second movement
Violist of the Kuss Quartet William Coleman emphasises the importance of creating a narrative arc in this movement, which encompasses a journey of emotional ambivalence
Masterclass: Saint-Saëns Havanaise op.83
Violinist Max Baillie gives smart and efficient practice tips to showcase a piece for violin and orchestra that juxtaposes lyricism with virtuosic passagework
Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement
Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality
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
Elster Trio wins the Polytechnical Society eV Chamber Music prize
The Frankfurt-based ensemble receives €5,000
Winners announced for New Zealand’s 2024 National String Competition
14-year-old violinist Hayden Chiu receives NZ$5,000 and performance opportunities
Winners announced at the 2024 Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition
Romanian violinist Iohan Coman received the €10,000 first prize
Watch: a 1981 Leonid Kogan Paganini performance with restored audio and video
Daniel Kurganov has remastered the entirety of Kogan’s performance of Paganini Violin Concerto no.1
Watch: a 1981 Leonid Kogan Paganini performance with restored audio and video
Tommy Mesa performs Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1
Watch: Philharmonia Orchestra musicians play a festive string quintet
Watch: New violin-playing robot specialises in Indian music
Verdi’s La Forza del Destino for double bass and piano
![Bach_fuga_Artwork[DIGITAL]](https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/270x180/0/7/0/37070_bach_fuga_artworkdigital_132645_crop.jpg)
Bach’s Fugue from Violin Sonata no.2… played on double bass!
Trailer: New Netflix documentary celebrates the NY Phil’s first full-time female musician
New video: Abel Selaocoe performs ‘calm and serene’ Bach
Jordan Bak plays the ‘Silver Leaf Fiddle’ by Andrew Carruthers
Lera Auerbach’s ‘T’filah’ performed by violinist Christine Bernsted
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Stars of Africa: South African tonewood
Wood physicist Martina Meincken presents the results of a study investigating whether indigenous woods of southern Africa might be suitable for use as tonewood for instruments
British luthier George Stoppani has died
An acknowledged expert in instrument acoustics, he was 75 years old
A unique poster: ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin – part two
Expert and conservator Balthazar Soulier has curated this month’s poster which, for the first time, features an ‘original composite’ violin: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’, made by Montagnana and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Here he places this unique instrument in context and highlights complementary information to enable a better understanding of the poster ...
In Focus: A 1937 violin by Giuseppe Castagnino
Alberto Giordano examines a 20th-century violin by the Chiavari-based luthier
Auction Report January 2025: The nice and the good
Kevin MacDonald finds a wealth of interesting lots at the October sales in London, from fine old Italians to a fiddle by a Cumbrian farmer
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Stars of Africa: South African tonewood
Wood physicist Martina Meincken presents the results of a study investigating whether indigenous woods of southern Africa might be suitable for use as tonewood for instruments
British luthier George Stoppani has died
An acknowledged expert in instrument acoustics, he was 75 years old
A unique poster: ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin – part two
Expert and conservator Balthazar Soulier has curated this month’s poster which, for the first time, features an ‘original composite’ violin: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’, made by Montagnana and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Here he places this unique instrument in context and highlights complementary information to enable a better understanding of the poster ...
In Focus: A 1937 violin by Giuseppe Castagnino
Alberto Giordano examines a 20th-century violin by the Chiavari-based luthier
Auction Report January 2025: The nice and the good
Kevin MacDonald finds a wealth of interesting lots at the October sales in London, from fine old Italians to a fiddle by a Cumbrian farmer
‘Through how many hands an instrument has to pass’ - From the archive: December 1904
Felix Herrmann reports on the violin making methods of Markneukirchen, and how the work is divided up among the neighbouring villages
Concert review: Belcea Quartet, Tabea Zimmermann (viola)
Tim Homfray visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 18 October 2024 for the performance of Mozart’s C minor String Quintet K406
Concert review: Isabelle Faust (violin) London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès
Peter Quantrill reviews the performance of Ondřej Adámek at London’s Barbican Hall on 31 October 2024
Concert review: Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello) Sinfonia of London/John Wilson
Tim Homfray visits London’s Barbican Hall on 15 October 2024 for the performance of Shostakovich, Kenneth Hesketh and Rachmaninoff
Ray Chen: Player 1
Commitment and tonal beauty can’t overcome the mismatch on this album
Van Kuijk Quartet: Impressions Parisiennes
Sophistication aplenty from a young quartet with plenty to say
Yue Qi: First Meeting
An enterprising release looks East for inspiration
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Janet Banks reviews Robert Jesselson and Teddy Buchholz’s system for practising cello scales and arpeggios
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
John Dilworth reviews a revised and updated version of the 2022 publication, now with an extra volume covering David Fulton’s bow collection
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
Alex Laing reviews the violin and viola versions of Nick Revel’s innovative etude series, combining practice studies with a fantasy adventure game
Debate
Opinion: AI vs live performance?
Even with the proliferation of technology such as generative AI in the music industry, violist Toby Deller believes there will always be a strong human need to experience live performance
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
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
Debate
Opinion: AI vs live performance?
Even with the proliferation of technology such as generative AI in the music industry, violist Toby Deller believes there will always be a strong human need to experience live performance
Opinion: Solving issues with your students’ parents over coffee
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
Accessories
Products January 2025: D’Addario Eclipse rechargeable cello and bass tuner
A new tuner in the company’s wide range
Products January 2025: Peter Infeld cello strings
The long-standing range now includes a cello set
Products January 2025: VoiceUp soundpost
A new carbon-fibre soundpost focused on adjustability
Concert review: Belcea Quartet, Tabea Zimmermann (viola)
Tim Homfray visits London’s Wigmore Hall on 18 October 2024 for the performance of Mozart’s C minor String Quintet K406
Concert review: Isabelle Faust (violin) London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès
Peter Quantrill reviews the performance of Ondřej Adámek at London’s Barbican Hall on 31 October 2024
Concert review: Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello) Sinfonia of London/John Wilson
Tim Homfray visits London’s Barbican Hall on 15 October 2024 for the performance of Shostakovich, Kenneth Hesketh and Rachmaninoff
Book review: The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios: A Comprehensive, Systematic, Sequential Approach
Janet Banks reviews Robert Jesselson and Teddy Buchholz’s system for practising cello scales and arpeggios
Book review: The Fulton Collection: Collector’s Edition
John Dilworth reviews a revised and updated version of the 2022 publication, now with an extra volume covering David Fulton’s bow collection
Book review: Dragonscales: The Hero Levels: 25 Fantasy Etudes to Slay Evil
Alex Laing reviews the violin and viola versions of Nick Revel’s innovative etude series, combining practice studies with a fantasy adventure game
Ray Chen: Player 1
Commitment and tonal beauty can’t overcome the mismatch on this album
Van Kuijk Quartet: Impressions Parisiennes
Sophistication aplenty from a young quartet with plenty to say
Yue Qi: First Meeting
An enterprising release looks East for inspiration
Artists
Music for our time: violinist Paul Huang on his new album ‘Mirrors’
The violinist speaks to The Strad about a musical journey that he hopes inspires listeners to ponder the past, present and future
Violinist Ning Feng: Truth and substance
There is seemingly nothing the Chinese-born, Berlin‑based violinist Ning Feng can’t do, from dazzling Paganini interpretations to Bach to 20th‑century concertos. He talks to Michael White about his influences, his future plans and his desire to pass on his musical wisdom to the next generation
‘Not bad’ meant ‘Very, very good!’: what was Leonid Kogan like as a violin teacher?
The distinguished French violinist and quartet leader Isabelle Flory studied with Leonid Kogan at the Moscow Conservatoire for three years. She shares her memories of his teaching methods
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