July 2023
We examine the 1709 ‘King Carlos IV’ Stradivari violin and chat to US fiddler Mark O’Connor. There’s a look at the early history of Brahms’s Violin Concerto and cellist Thomas Demenga gives a Debussy Masterclass. Plus our annual Accessories supplement.
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November 2023
In a North American special, we talk to double bassist Joseph Conyers and look at the work of the Sphinx Organization. There’s a look at the immigration of German bow makers to the US and we find out how over 30 luthiers collaborated on a single cello at Oberlin. Plus Aleksey Igudesman’s Sentimental Work.
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October 2023
We talk to the Leonkoro Quartet and investigate the history of the Hardanger fiddle. There’s a look at Pablo Casals’ unique interpretation of Bach’s Cello Suites, and double bassist Leon Bosch gives a Masterclass on Koussevitzky. Plus interviews with Johan Dalene, Nils Mönkemeyer and Sergej Krylov.
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March 2022
June 2023
British cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson discusses her influences and we report on the efforts to help young displaced musicians from Ukraine. There’s a Masterclass on Fauré and we mark the 100th anniversary of Ligeti’s birth. Plus Francesca Dego’s Sentimental Work.
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December 2023
We talk to US violinist Anne Akiko Meyers and investigate the lives of two Italian luthiers: Filippo de Filippi and Luigi Mozzani. There’s an in-depth look at Telemann and we look at techniques to play more effortlessly. Plus a Dvořák Masterclass with cellist Hannah Roberts.
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September 2023
In an education special, we talk to violinist Randall Goosby and explore strategies to help adult learners on the cello. There’s a look at training a lutherie apprentice, and what conservatoires are doing to safeguard students’ mental health. Plus interviews with Hilary Hahn, Ronald Copes and Eldbjørg Hemsing.
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August 2023
Nicola Benedetti talks about becoming director of the Edinburgh International Festival, and there’s a look at the life of luthier Marino Capicchioni. We ask what Stradivari used as a pre-varnish preparation layer, and Julian Rachlin gives his Sentimental Work. Plus a Dvořák Masterclass with Pavel Šporcl.
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March 2024
We talk to superstar violinist Augustin Hadelich and explore the life of composer Pierre Rode. Cellist Laurence Lesser looks back on his six-decade career and there’s a Masterclass on Ravel’s Violin Sonata no.2. Plus a look at setting up a double bass, and Gidon Kremer reveals his Sentimental Work.
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February 2024
We talk to British violist Timothy Ridout and learn about the history of violin making in Schönbach. Philippe Graffin talks about the discovery of a ‘lost’ work by Ysaÿe and we examine what might be the last violin ever made by Guadagnini. Plus a Brahms Masterclass with Daniel Kurganov.
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May 2023
July 2022
We examine a 1671 violin by Girolamo Amati II and the members of the Brodsky Quartet discuss their 50th anniversary. There’s a look at Bach’s Cello Suites, string playing’s ‘lost arts’, and the career of François-Nicolas Voirin comes under the spotlight. Plus Kenneth Sillito’s Sentimental Work.
April 2024
We talk to superstar violinist Joshua Bell and report on an innovative ‘improvised’ concerto. There’s a look at the career of bow maker Richard Otto Gläsel and Elena Urioste reveals her Sentimental Work. Plus a Beethoven Masterclass courtesy of cellist Gary Hoffman.
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April 2023
Carolin Widmann is the cover star of a German-themed issue, with a profile of the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic and the story of collector Baron Johann Knoop. We look at how luthiers can calculate their instrument prices, and the Tippett Quartet discuss recording Korngold. Plus cellist Tanja Tetzlaff’s Sentimental Work.
August 2022
January 2022
March 2023
February 2023
Christian-Pierre La Marca is on the cover of a French-themed issue, in which we examine pedagogue Lucien Capet’s legacy and luthier Pierre Flavetta investigates Cremonese varnish. There’s a look inside David Ayache’s Montpellier workshop and Yann Poulain explores modern lutherie techniques. Plus Midori’s 40 years in the spotlight
September 2022
January 2023
December 2021
December 2020
December 2022
September 2021
July 2021
November 2022
April 2022
In a German-themed issue, Johannes Moser discusses his love of experimental repertoire and we examine the mystery of Jacob Stainer’s birthdate. There’s a Beethoven Session Report with Rachel Podger, and a look at two German lutherie families who found success in the US. Plus double bassist Christine Hoock’s Sentimental Work
February 2022
October 2022
June 2022
May 2022
October 2021
August 2021
June 2021
We talk to up-and-coming soloist Bomsori Kim and investigate the Knopf dynasty of bow makers. Jennifer Koh gives a Masterclass on Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir d’un lieu cher, and Carolin Widmann talks about Schubert in Sentimental Work. Plus our annual Accessories supplement, with everything you need to know on Covid-proofing your orchestra.
March 2021
December-2019
Alberto Giordano and Rudolf Hopfner tell the fascinating story of the 1677 ‘Romanov’ Amati viola: once part of Russia’s Imperial Collection, the instrument displays features of both Nicolò and his son Girolamo II. We also take a look at the Royal Danish Orchestra’s fine instrument collection, and explore casting professional musicians in film and TV roles.
July-2019
April-2019
October-2018
November 2021
May 2021
April 2021
Crossover superstar David Garrett discusses his career so far, and we examine the legacy of bow maker Ludwig Bausch. Daniel Hope talks about his friendship with Alfred Schnittke in Sentimental Work, and we learn the ins and out of gut string making. Plus a Haydn Masterclass with the Chiaroscuro Quartet.
February-2019
September-2018
August-2016
March-2016
We report on the 2015 VSA/Oberlin Violin Makers Workshop, where 60 luthiers collaborated on a brand new model of violin. James Ehnes gives a Masterclass on Beethoven’s ‘Spring’ Sonata and we examine two cellos by the lesser-known maker Antonio Casini. Plus interviews with David Geringas, Christian Poltéra, Lynn Harrell, Rosalind Ventris and many more.
January 2021
Cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras talks about his latest Beethoven recording and we take an in-depth look inside Stradivari’s ‘Messiah’ using CT scans. Students of the late George Neikrug reminisce about the great cello tutor, and Alban Gerhardt completes his Saint-Saëns Masterclass. Plus Rohan de Saram’s Life Lessons