All Features articles – Page 4
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolin maker Otto Schünemann: A Romantic visionary
Although Otto Schünemann’s violins were praised by everyone from Vuillaume to Sarasate, his name is barely recognised today. Clifford Hall tells the story of this idealistic luthier who strove to bring the glories of the Cremonese masters to 19th-century Germany
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Premium ❘ FeaturePierre Rode: The Rode less travelled
He is best remembered for his didactic 24 Caprices, but there’s much more to Pierre Rode. For the French virtuoso’s 250th anniversary, Charlotte Gardner reveals a colourful life story and hears from the German violinist Friedemann Eichhorn, who has revived and recorded all of Rode’s 13 violin concertos
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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 ❘ FeatureSession Report: violinist Francesca Dego on recording Brahms and Busoni concertos
The concertos of Brahms and Busoni make a natural pairing on record but, as the violinist Francesca Dego explains to Peter Quantrill, the connection between them goes beyond the notes
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Premium ❘ FeatureScarampella and Gadda: The art of the deal
Signed 100 years ago, an agreement between luthier Stefano Scarampella and his apprentice Gaetano Gadda has recently been discovered. Philip Kass explains how it shines a light on the business relationship between two of Mantua’s leading 20th-century makers
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Premium ❘ FeatureYsaÿe’s Poème concertant: shining a light on a long-forgotten piece
Violinist Philippe Graffin has recorded a work for violin and orchestra by Eugène Ysaÿe that had lain undiscovered for more than a century. He speaks to Jessica Duchen about the love affair that inspired the piece, and what can be learnt from its discovery
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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 ❘ FeatureElias Placht: how one man founded the violin making tradition of Schönbach
By the early 20th century, the town of Schönbach was producing tens of thousands of violins per year – but the industry began with just one man. Christian Hoyer sifts through the records to reveal the life and legacy of Elias Placht
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: 12 Ensemble on recording new album ‘Metamorphosis’
The conductorless string orchestra 12 Ensemble is celebrating its twelfth birthday with a new album, Metamorphosis. Founder members Max Ruisi and Eloise-Fleur Thom speak to David Kettle about the repertoire, and recording in London’s famous Abbey Road Studios
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Premium ❘ FeatureViolist Timothy Ridout: ‘People want to hear something different’
Timothy Ridout is the latest in a line of brilliant British violists that stretches back to Lionel Tertis. He speaks to Toby Deller about the legacy of this influential musician, his own fight to expand the viola repertoire, and his latest recording – a Tertis celebration
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Cellist Laura van der Heijden and Jâms Coleman on recording ‘Path to the Moon’
Cellist Laura van der Heijden and pianist Jâms Coleman speak to Tom Stewart about the imaginative programming behind their new album Path to the Moon – their second recording together as a duo – which features an eclectic selection of lunar-inspired repertoire
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Premium ❘ FeatureMaud Powell and Sibelius: how the violinist championed the composer's Violin Concerto
Violin virtuoso Maud Powell was the first American performer to recognise and champion the genius of Sibelius’s epic Violin Concerto in D minor, in spite of the initial scepticism of some US critics. Karen A. Shaffer reveals the mutual respect and friendship that made it possible
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Premium ❘ FeatureAll-female string quartets of the 19th and 20th centuries
In spite of historic discrimination against women having careers as professional musicians during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many first-class all-female string quartets flourished at the time. In the first of two articles, Tully Potter provides a survey of some of these pioneering groups
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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 ❘ FeatureAnalysing the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’: Stradivari à la mode
George Stoppani presents the results of an investigation into the acoustics of the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’, focusing primarily on the ‘signature modes’
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Premium ❘ FeatureStradivari 1713 ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ Violin: Sarasate’s Red Violin
One of the most admired instruments ever made by Antonio Stradivari, the ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ is in an excellent state of preservation. Roberto Jardón Rico examines the violin and its best-known owner, the Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sarasate
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Premium ❘ FeatureThe Fulton collection: Magnificent obsession
For decades, top soloists would visit the home of David Fulton to sample the treasures of his legendary collection. Now dispersed, the instruments have been brought together again in book form. The collector shares some of the highlights with Christian Lloyd
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Premium ❘ FeatureFilippo de Filippi: From Vatican to varnish
The 19th-century violin maker Filippo de Filippi had an unusual route to his chosen career, taking in the Papal court, the Risorgimento and Rome’s cultural milieu. Stefano Pio explores his intriguing life
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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: violist Hiyoli Togawa on recording her new album, Children!
Violist Hiyoli Togawa speaks to Carlos María Solare about her latest recording, Children!, which mixes new music with Bach and is based around the themes of childhood memories and family love
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Premium ❘ FeatureTelemann’s Viol Fantaisies on the viola
When a long-lost set of Telemann bass viol fantaisies was found in a private collection a few years ago, Mikhail ‘Misha’ Galaganov set about arranging them for the viola. Here he explores the history of the works and reveals some of the challenges he encountered in his quest
