October 2024

The current members of the Takács Quartet discuss the group’s 50th anniversary and we ask whether it’s possible to teach yourself the violin. We celebrate the instruments of The Strad Calendar 2025, French violinist Régis Pasquier shares some stories from his long career and we examine the career of luthier Amedeo Simonazzi. Plus interviews with Alexander Baillie, Matthew Barley and Alexander Sitkovetsky.

October 2024 Cover

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From this month's magazine

50 years of the Takács Quartet

As the Takács Quartet celebrates its 50th birthday, its members talk to Pauline Harding about the ensemble’s legacy, the intangible ‘fifth spirit’ that has shaped its character even as its players have changed over the decades, and the importance of teaching and other projects and challenges

From the land of a hundred violins: Amedeo Simonazzi

The luthier Amedeo Simonazzi was born into a region with a strong native musical tradition – which is almost forgotten today. Stefano Pio reveals how his surroundings influenced his career

Régis Pasquier: the complete violinist

Now nearing his ninth decade, the great French violinist Régis Pasquier has enjoyed a dazzlingly varied 65-year career taking in everything from core repertoire to contemporary music to jazz. He shares some of his memories over tea in Paris with Jessica Duchen

Online exclusive

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The Takács Quartet – an exclusive interview from The Strad’s archive, April 1985

The Takács Quartet, regarded as one of the world’s greatest string quartets, celebrates its 50th anniversary this season. In this exclusive interview from The Strad’s April 1985 issue, the ensemble’s original line-up spoke about building on their early success

Cover story

01_TQ-ProgramBook_Credit_Amanda_Tipton

50 years of the Takács Quartet

As the Takács Quartet celebrates its 50th birthday, its members talk to Pauline Harding about the ensemble’s legacy, the intangible ‘fifth spirit’ that has shaped its character even as its players have changed over the decades, and the importance of teaching and other projects and challenges

Playing

regis-pasquier_credit_nina_adler

Régis Pasquier: the complete violinist

Now nearing his ninth decade, the great French violinist Régis Pasquier has enjoyed a dazzlingly varied 65-year career taking in everything from core repertoire to contemporary music to jazz. He shares some of his memories over tea in Paris with Jessica Duchen

Lutherie

Untitled design (10)

The Strad Calendar 2025: Canada’s crème de la crème

2024-09-20T09:02:00+01:00

The Strad Calendar 2025 celebrates the work of the Canada Council for the Arts, which has been matching players with fine instruments for 40 years. Christian Lloyd takes a look at the collection’s highlights

Technique

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Technique: Expressive fingerings on the violin

Violinist Lucie Robert explores the art of expressive fingerings

Masterclass

Yuri Zhislin - cr Sasha Gusov

Masterclass: Schubert Arpeggione Sonata on viola, first movement

2024-09-27T08:57:00+01:00

Yuri Zhislin illustrates the importance of colour and harmony in a work renowned for its lyricism and technicality