The Strad’s April 2016 issue is on sale now, in which German violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann speaks to Andrew Mellor about re-recording the Mozart violin concertos, 20 years after his breakthrough recording, and unveils his newly acquired Stradivari violin.

Elsewhere in the issue, Wolfgang Zunterer and Constanze Werner track the early history of the prolific Mittenwald dynasty - Mathias Klotz and his sons Georg and Sebastian; international soloists including Arabella Steinbacher, Henning Kraggerud, Hilary Hahn and Leonidas Kavakos discuss their favourite violin encores; and German luthier Stefan-Peter Greinershares his views on contemporary instrument making, violin sound analysis and the future of his trade with Pauline Harding.

In our regular sections: the new Masterclass series continues with violist Maxim Rysanov, who marks up the sheet music for Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata; In Focus gives a close-up view of a 400-year-old Brothers Amati cello belonging to Bonnie Hampton; Torbjörn Zethelius shares his method for laying out f-holes in the first of two Trade Secrets articles; Bielefeld luthier Markus Lage invites us into his workshop in My Space; violinist Julie Lyonn Lieberman gives tips on the effective use of the left thumb in Technique; German cellist Jan Vogler takes us through his Practice Diary; three auction house directors give tips on what string players should look for when browsing an instrument auction in Ask the Experts; and violinist Augustin Hadelich talks about Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in Sentimental Work.

We also bring you news of the latest competitions, products and auctions, and comprehensive reviews of concerts, CDs and books.