Our February issue cover artist is the star of these dramatic shots, taken at his album launch earlier this month
On 12 February 2024, British violist Timothy Ridout performed at a launch event for his new album, ‘A Lionel Tertis Celebration’, in the beautiful art gallery in London’s Foundling Museum. He was joined by pianist James Baillieu and together they performed a selection of works from the album including Kreisler’s Praeludium & Allegro, Vaughan-Williams’s Six Studies in English Folk Song and Eric Coates’s First Meeting.
The evening included a Q&A session with Ridout and music journalist Ariane Todes, where they discussed the origin of the album and how Timothy chose the programme as a tribute to Tertis though a musical journey, including pieces by Tertis’ friends, teachers and students alongside some of Tertis’ own original works and transcriptions.
The head of Harmonia Mundi record label, Christian Girardin, made the trip from Arles, France, for the launch event and congratulated Ridout on his album. Guests included members of The Lionel Tertis Foundation who have kindly supported Ridout and many other artists over the past 20 years.
Ridout performs on a viola by Peregrino Di Zanetto from 1565–75, on loan to him from an anonymous patron. ’The Zanetto is quite large at 17.2in or 43.7cm – around that,’ Ridout told The Strad in his February 2024 issue cover feature. ’It looked massive, like a medieval wardrobe, in a way! Such a different style, and the f-holes were a different shape from those on modern [as in post-Amati] instruments.’
Timothy Ridout’s album ‘A Lionel Tertis Celebration’ is out now on Harmonia Mundi.
All photos courtesy Frances Marshall.
The number one source for playing and teaching books, guides, CDs, calendars and back issues of the magazine.
In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.
The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.
American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.
No comments yet