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Merchants of Venice: Venetian lutherie

2024-11-15T09:46:00+00:00

In the 16th century, the Republic of Venice was a hotbed of innovation for stringed instrument makers – and the members of the Linarol family were at the heart of the trade. Stefano Pio explores the archives to reveal their fascinating and often colourful lives and careers

Violinist Ning Feng: Truth and substance

2024-11-15T09:45:00+00:00

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

The cosmopolitan virtuoso: Ivan Mane Jarnović

2024-11-15T09:44:00+00:00

Tanja Goldberg examines the life and legacy of the violin virtuoso and composer Ivan Mane Jarnović, who died 220 years ago, and whose influence on the development of the violin concerto and violin playing in the 18th century has long lain unrecognised

An unforgotten talent: 100 years of violinist Leonid Kogan

2024-11-08T09:56:00.083+00:00

The matchless Soviet violinist Leonid Kogan was born 100 years ago on 14 November 1924. To mark the centenary, Tully Potter examines the life of ‘the greatest violinist’ he’s ever heard in concert

‘President Zelensky was only 20 feet away’: Exclusive photos and interviews with US military string players

2024-11-08T09:56:00+00:00

The Strad’s staff writer Rita Fernandes shares exclusive interviews from her trip to Washington DC to meet string players in the US military

December 2024

December 2024: Editor’s welcome and contents

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Merchants of Venice: Venetian lutherie

2024-11-15T09:46:00+00:00

Violinist Ning Feng: Truth and substance

2024-11-15T09:45:00+00:00

Featured People

An unforgotten talent: 100 years of violinist Leonid Kogan
The matchless Soviet violinist Leonid Kogan was born 100 years ago on 14 November 1924. To mark the centenary, Tully Potter examines the life of ‘the greatest violinist’ he’s ever heard in concert
‘Comparing yourself to others is counter-productive’ - Alisa Weilerstein’s life lessons
The US cellist on creating a balanced career and the influence of musical parents
Sentimental Work: Alexander Sitkovetsky on Bach’s ‘Double’ Violin Concerto
Bach’s ‘Double’ Violin Concerto in D minor BWV1043 has been a constant companion throughout the Russian–British violinist’s life, and played critical roles in his career

An unforgotten talent: 100 years of violinist Leonid Kogan

‘Comparing yourself to others is counter-productive’ - Alisa Weilerstein’s life lessons

The US cellist on creating a balanced career and the influence of musical parents

Sentimental Work: Alexander Sitkovetsky on Bach’s ‘Double’ Violin Concerto

Bach’s ‘Double’ Violin Concerto in D minor BWV1043 has been a constant companion throughout the Russian–British violinist’s life, and played critical roles in his career

Learn From The Experts

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

Long Reads

Remembering Ida Haendel: Grande dame of the violin

Following Ida Haendel’s death at the age of 96 in July 2020, Tully Potter surveys the career of an exceptional performer and a remarkable woman. From September 2020

Pierre 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

All-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

German bow makers in America: Across the Atlantic

Many, if not most, of the earliest bow makers working in America originally hailed from Germany. Raphael Gold discovers how they helped lay the foundations for the industry

Sphinx Organization: Change for good

For the past quarter-century the Sphinx Organization has worked tirelessly to bring much-needed diversity to the US classical music scene. Bruce Hodges examines its achievements, and hears from its founder and its president about the future

Lutherie

Remembering Ida Haendel: Grande dame of the violin

Following Ida Haendel’s death at the age of 96 in July 2020, Tully Potter surveys the career of an exceptional performer and a remarkable woman. From September 2020

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

Technique: Expressive fingerings on the violin

Violinist Lucie Robert explores the art of expressive fingerings

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

Technique: Rick Stotijn on double bass pizzicato

The Dutch bassist offers tips on exploring the world of pizzicato on double bass

Masterclass: Mendelssohn String Quartet in F minor, first movement

Second violinist of the Aris Quartet Noémi Zipperling examines Mendelssohn’s emotionally charged movement, considered to be a requiem for his sister and, ultimately, himself

Long Reads

Remembering Ida Haendel: Grande dame of the violin

Following Ida Haendel’s death at the age of 96 in July 2020, Tully Potter surveys the career of an exceptional performer and a remarkable woman. From September 2020

Pierre Rode: The Rode less travelled

All-female string quartets after the First World War

German bow makers in America: Across the Atlantic

Many, if not most, of the earliest bow makers working in America originally hailed from Germany. Raphael Gold discovers how they helped lay the foundations for the industry

Sphinx Organization: Change for good

'When someone is healthy inside, it sounds that way' - Mental health services in conservatoires

Rita Fernandes hears from administrators, counsellors and teachers from music schools about what defines a successful conservatoire mental health support system

Lutherie

Violin 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
In Focus: A c.1800 violin by Joseph Panormo
Andrew Fairfax on the UK-based Italian maker’s turn-of-the-century instrument
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection
The Strad Calendar 2024 pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s finest stringed instrument collections, put together in just a couple of decades by American violin collector David L. Fulton. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures

Zosimo Bergonzi: Family fortunes

Zosimo Bergonzi, son of Carlo, was for a time the only luthier active in Cremona . Michel Samson tracks his career through his known works

Great Instruments

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

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

A unique pairing: the ‘Paderewski, Wendling’ violin
In the first of a two-part article, Balthazar Soulier examines an extraordinary violin that displays the hallmarks of both Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ and Domenico Montagnana
The 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
The Strad Calendar 2024: The Fulton collection
The Strad Calendar 2024 pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s finest stringed instrument collections, put together in just a couple of decades by American violin collector David L. Fulton. Christian Lloyd examines the treasures