January-2014
Cellist Zoë Keating explains how her success as a DIY musician in an issue with a ‘fresh thinking’ theme. We report on ensembles with alternative repoertoire such as the Silk Road Ensemble and discover why luthiers have started creating their own exhibitions. Plus Gary Hoffman on Brahms, David Harrington on teaching new music, and Summerplus, our annual guide to short string courses worldwide.
December-2013
Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter talks about reaching out to the next generation of classical music lovers, and we report on the downfall of disgraced violin dealer Dietmar Machold. Top viola players discuss playing Hindemith and there’s a tribute to the late US luthier Carl F. Becker. Plus, Mihaela Martin on Enescu, Simon Fischer on bowing and a report on lutherie in Afghanistan.
November-2013
Joshua Bell is on the cover of our North America-focused issue, which contains a detailed examination of his 1713 ‘Huberman’ Stradivari. We explore San Francisco’s chamber music scene, look back on the varied career of Harry Lookofsky, and report on the Banff string quartet competition. Plus, musicians discuss Britten’s string works and Tim Kliphuis gives tips on playing like Stéphane Grappelli.
October-2013
Jacques Thibaud, Fritz Kreisler and Pablo Casals adorn the cover of a special issue celebrating the great players of the past. It includes guest editor Steven Isserlis on Thibaud, Ivry Gitlis on Enescu and Gary Karr on Koussevitsky. Bonnie Hampton and Arnold Steinhardt recall their lessons with Casals and Szigeti respectively, and we look back on some of the 20th century’s lesser-known string stars.
September-2013
Violist and pedagogue Bruno Giuranna heads up an issue focused on teaching, in which we investigate the tuition of string quartets, the value of apprenticeships, and methods of teacher-training. Jean-Guihen Queyras gives a guide to Elgar’s Cello Concerto, there’s a practice diary from bassist Waldemar Schwiertz and Zakhar Bron lists his favourite things.
August-2013
US violist David Aaron Carpenter explains how he’s using star power to broaden the appeal of his instrument. We report on a Chinese music education programme inspired by El Sistema and look back at the life of Albert Spalding, one of the top violinists of his day. Plus, James Ehnes talks about Prokofiev and we appraise a 1658 Nicolò Amati violin.
June-2013
Raphael Wallfisch: the pragmatic cellist with a penchant for new works Vuillaume cello: the 1865 ‘Sheremetev’, one of the maker’s finest works Joseph Hague: we uncover the man behind a mysterious set of recordings Group teaching: different methods for injecting energy into rehearsasls Plus: a guide to antiquing instruments, a Masterclass on Britten, and a preview of the Stradivari exhibition at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum
April-2013
Violinist Christian Tetzlaff is the cover star of our German-themed issue, and we have ten copies of his latest CD to give away. We find out how to play the ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata like a Beethoven-era player and ask whether there is still a ‘German’ orchestral sound. Plus, musical insights from violist Nils Mönkemeyer, klezmer player Alicia Svigals and cello teacher Hans Rabus.
March-2013
We talk to the Calder Quartet, a foursome equally at home performing with punk bands as on the concert stage. Pedagogue Mimi Zweig advises on children’s first violin lessons, and Roger Hargrave concludes his look at the evolution of Baroque instruments. We also ask the question: should musicians ever perform for free?
February-2013
We talk to cellist Alisa Weilerstein and review her latest CD of Elgar and Carter concertos. This edition also includes a short video interview in which Weilerstein discusses the latter piece with the composer. There’s also a look at the bows of Persoit, hiring a publicist, and collaborative teaching.
January-2013
December-2012
November-2012
October-2012
September-2012
Teaching is the focus for this month's edition, in which we discover how Suzuki teaching has spread across the world in recent years. Lutherie pedagogues give their views on the contentious issue of studying restoration, and we consider the legacy of Francesco Geminiani, author of one of the earliest books on studying technique.
August-2012
Cellist Antonio Meneses graces the cover of this Latin American-themed issue, which includes features on string teaching in Venezuela and Colombia, lutherie in Mexico, Piazzolla’s string music and cellist Carlos Prieto’s favourite things. Plus, as he reaches his 90th birthday, violinist Ivry Gitlis looks back on his long career.
July-2012
In this issue, Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto discusses his experiments in sound, and we find out how Les 24 Violons du Roi – one of the first string orchestras – has been recreated. There’s a guide to busking, tips on teaching different styles, and interviews with final-year string students as they start their professional careers.
June-2012
This issue’s guest editor, violinist Hilary Hahn, has chosen a theme of ‘conversations’, in which members of the string world talk to people from other professions to discover new perspectives on their craft. Teachers give their thoughts on tackling difficult subjects with students, and in Masterclass, Jean-Guihen Queyras takes us through Bach’s Cello Suite no.5
April-2012
The members of the Brodsky Quartet talk about their love of experimentation, and Maxim Vengerov discusses his return to performing after years away. There’s also a report on Scottish fiddling, a rtrospective on viola player Frederick Riddle, and an analysis of violins in 17th-century Dutch artworks. Plus, Mats Lindström’s tips on playing cello scales.
March-2012
Germany is the theme for this issue, with an interview with player and teacher Antje Weithaas, a Masterclass with cellist Alban Gerhardt, and a report on the resurgence of lutherie in the Vogtland region. Plus, quartet members discuss the works of Wolfgang Rihm, and violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann explains his love for Beethoven’s late string quartets.
February-2012
Can professional players tell a Strad from a modern instrument in a blind test? We report on the experiment and its controversial findings. There’s also a discussion on the perils of teacher–student relationships and a look back at the life of master restorer René Morel, who died in December. Plus a report on dendrochronology.
