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Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Nancy Zhou on her debut album for solo violin
Violinist Nancy Zhou speaks to Charlotte Gardner about her debut album, which is inspired by stories of personal and musical relationships, and showcases the versatility of the violin as a solo instrument
Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: The future of lutherie after the Newark School’s course cancellations
News came in May that the Newark School of Violin Making is withdrawing its degree-level courses. Helen Michetschläger, who trained at the school, says what this might mean for the future of lutherie worldwide
Premium ❘ ArticleAnalysis July 2025: The effects of Leicester Square’s ban on buskers
Now that buskers have been banned in London’s Leicester Square, how does the future of street entertainment look for those who depend on it for their livelihood? By Peter Somerford
Premium ❘ FeatureAdam Summerhayes: Music shaped by instinct
Adam Summerhayes is a violinist and composer who combines his flair for improvisation and a love of folk music with a classical training and technique. He speaks to Alexandra Petropoulos about his latest projects and his very special instruments
Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Newark: Newark School Lutherie Day
Students, amateurs and professional makers all came together at this year’s Lutherie Day for talks on anything violin-related. Christian Lloyd went along
Premium ❘ Focus‘We could all do with being a little less vain’: Tanja Tetzlaff’s life lessons
The German cellist on her biggest influences and the importance of humility
Premium ❘ FeatureTerry Riley: Ninety journeys around the sun
The trailblazing Californian composer Terry Riley celebrates his 90th birthday this month. David Kettle speaks with him and with some of the musicians who have championed his eclectic, improvisatory music for strings
Premium ❘ Feature‘Elman was the finest violinist in the world’ - From the Archive: June 1905
A 13-year-old Mischa Elman and 11-year-old Vivien Chartres (not 9, as stated in the text) astonish The Strad’s reviewer ‘Gamba’ with their technical prowess
Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Baiba Skride on Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1
The Latvian violinist grew up with Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no.1, a work that allows a lot of freedom of expression – as her two recordings amply demonstrate
Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: Intelligent approaches to the bow in orchestral playing
The default for many orchestral string players is to use as much bow as possible to achieve maximum projection. Violinist Alexandra Gorski argues that a more thoughtful approach is necessary
Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: Leon Bosch on recording his album ‘The British Double Bass Sonatina’
Leon Bosch tells Harry White about his new album of double bass sonatinas – seven brand new works that he commissioned from a circle of contemporary British composers
Premium ❘ FeatureFlying the flag for young talent: young artists’ schemes
As the Young Classical Artists Trust celebrates its 40th anniversary, Jessica Duchen hears from artists whose careers have been supported by this and other schemes for emerging talent
Premium ❘ ArticleAnalysis June 2025: Newest AI developments in music education
With AI advances almost constantly making headlines in the news, what benefits might it have for the future of music education? By Peter Somerford
Premium ❘ FeatureStill making waves: the Australian Chamber Orchestra
As the Australian Chamber Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary, Michael White speaks to its long-time artistic director Richard Tognetti about its unique place in the musical world
Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Svalbard: Arctic Chamber Music Festival
The Arctic Chamber Music Festival takes place in the world’s most northerly town, Longyearbyen. Emma Baker travelled there to sample its unique atmosphere
Premium ❘ FeatureThe power of three: the string trio
Jacqueline Vanasse explores the unique properties of the string trio, delving into its history and repertoire with the guidance of some of today’s top trio players
Premium ❘ Focus‘Curiosity is at the core of human nature’ - Roberto Díaz’s life lessons
The US–Chilean violist and director of the Curtis Institute of Music discusses the importance of technique and curiosity
Premium ❘ Feature‘We hope this unjust penalising of ’cellists will disappear’ - From the archive: May 1925
Not planes but trains: a century ago, cellists were up in arms about railway operators charging extra to allow instruments on board. Pedagogue Carl Fuchs reveals the result of the latest petition
Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Alina Ibragimova on Schumann’s Violin Sonata no.2
For the Russian–British violinist, Schumann’s Violin Sonata no.2 may be exhausting but rewards listeners with a profound insight into the composer’s deepest soul
Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: cellist Zlatomir Fung on recording operatic fantasies for his debut album
For his debut album, US cellist Zlatomir Fung has delved into the world of the operatic fantasy – a relative rarity on the instrument. He speaks to Peter Quantrill about how making the recording has revealed new aspects of his musical personality
Premium ❘ FeatureGeorge Enescu: a musical polymath
Tully Potter explores the rich and colourful life of George Enescu, the extraordinary Romanian violinist, composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue, who died 70 years ago
Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: Becoming a ‘bowist’
Violinist and teacher Alun Thomas explains why, when working on our technique and expression, string players should focus much more attention to the right arm than we might at first imagine
Premium ❘ ArticleAnalysis May 2025: Dealing with concert cancellations
One of the main problems for venues and promoters is what to do when an artist cancels at the last minute. How can they best appease their audiences? Peter Somerford investigates
Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Gateshead: Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions
Tully Potter attended the 2025 editions of the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions – held for the first time under one roof in the north-east of England – and he couldn’t fault the results
Premium ❘ FeaturePhilippe Quint: a time of change
US violinist Philippe Quint speaks to Rita Fernandes about his deeply personal new album Milestones, which represents a turning point in his career
Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Frank Peter Zimmermann on Schumann’s Violin Concerto
Although the German violinist came late to Schumann, the Violin Concerto remains one of his repertoire staples – and provides an insight into the composer’s fraught mental state
Premium ❘ FeatureAdvice from peers: sharing the wisdom
Charlotte Gardner speaks to leading string players who have learnt valuable lessons from their colleagues and contemporaries, demonstrating that such insights are not only passed from teacher to pupil
Premium ❘ FeatureSession Report: the London Handel Players on recording Telemann’s ‘Paris’ Quartets
As part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, the London Handel Players has recorded six of Telemann’s ‘Paris’ Quartets. Robin Stowell speaks to two of the ensemble’s members about bringing the dance elements in the music to life
Premium ❘ Focus‘Always be truthful and loyal to yourself’ - Maximilian Hornung’s life lessons
The German cellist on his varying influences and what it takes to be a musician
Premium ❘ ArticleAnalysis April 2025: Changes for German freelance tutors
As music schools in Germany react to a government decision on freelance tutors, what are the ramifications for budgets, students and teaching bodies?
Premium ❘ FocusOpinion: The importance of repetition in teaching
In the practice of teaching, the value and beauty of repetition must always be encouraged, says violinist and pioneering Suzuki pedagogue Helen Brunner
Premium ❘ FeatureFrom screen to strings: concert works by screen composers
Rita Fernandes presents a curated list of string works by ten composers best known for their screen work, as well as interviews with composers and players
Premium ❘ FeatureViolinist Arabella Steinbacher: angels and demons
Pauline Harding hears from the German violinist about her cathartic journey into the darkest depths and brightest heights of Lentz’s Violin Concerto, its pairing with Beethoven on her latest recording and the impact of motherhood on music making
Premium ❘ FocusPostcard from Germany: Heidelberg String Quartet Festival
Carlos María Solare joined the loyal audience at Heidelberg’s String Quartet Festival, which celebrated both its 20th anniversary and the upcoming 90th birthday of composer Helmut Lachenmann
Premium ❘ ArticleViolinist James Ehnes: an exclusive profile from The Strad’s archive, November 2007
Charismatic, honest, self-critical, and with an amazingly relaxed approach to performing, the Canadian virtuoso charms Michael Quinn in this archive interview from The Strad’s November 2007 issue
Premium ❘ FocusSentimental Work: Fabio Biondi on Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette
Discovering Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette was a pivotal moment in the Italian violinist–conductor’s path to understanding the world of 19th-century Romanticism
Premium ❘ Feature‘They never seemed quite to forgive each other’ - From the archive: March 1915
The somewhat irascible Belgian cellist Ernest de Munck, who passed away on 19 January 1915, is remembered by his student Dora Petherick
Premium ❘ FeatureCellist Zara Nelsova: A sound from a dream
The Canadian-born cellist Zara Nelsova was a fierce advocate for the repertoire she loved and for four decades an inspirational teacher at the Juilliard School. Oskar Falta explores her life and remarkable career, and hears from some of the musicians who studied with her
Premium ❘ Focus‘You have to feel you’re worthy of standing on stage’ - Julia Fischer’s life lessons
The German violinist on her influences and navigating today’s challenges
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