May-2014
Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg talks about her multifaceted career and the Kronos Quartet looks back on 40 years at the cutting edge of contemporary music. Teachers discuss ways of preparing their students for orchestral auditions and we investigate the complex world of insurance for players and makers. Plus, Peter Herresthal gives a Masterclass on Thomas Adès.
March-2014
We investigate Berlin’s burgeoning chamber music scene in a German-themed issue, and find out why the nation’s music schools are so highly regarded. String players and luthiers remember the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and Antoine Tamestit gives a Masterclass on Bach. Plus, cellist Jan Vogler’s practice diary and an in-depth interview with the Mandelring Quartet
January 2024
We examine the 1713 ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ violin by Antonio Stradivari and chat to young virtuoso cellist Zlatomir Fung. There’s a look at how Maud Powell championed the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the US, and Carolin Widmann reveals her Life Lessons. Plus a Mozart Masterclass with Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Read more in The Strad
September-2020
August-2020
November-2019
October-2019
Raphael Wallfisch marks the centenary of Elgar's Cello Concerto with the story of the work's composition, premiere and subsequent interpretations. Plus we speak to the Kuss Quartet about performing Beethoven on the 'Paganini' set of Stradivaris, and investigate how instrument set-up can affect sound.
March-2019
June-2018
We complete our analysis of the ‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri, with Anne Akiko Meyers’ views on playing the priceless violin. There’s a look at the pitfalls of playing outdoors, we go in search of Stradivari’s ‘lost’ mould, and Kyung Wha Chung gives her Life Lessons.
Plus Accessories 2018: your guide to strings, bridges, rosin, pickups, and much more.
May-2018
December-2017
Buy the December 2017 issue of The Strad. Includes focus on Stradivari's final years and the turbulent social and political times in Cremona from 1702 to 1737.
Plus Renaud Capuçon on teaching; Steven Isserlis’ trench cello; double bassist Barry Guy; Dragonetti’s Gasparo da Salò bass and its seismic effect on English luthiery; Trondheim Chamber Music Festival; an 1856 violin by Giuseppe Rocca; luthiers David Finck and Eric Benning; exercises to release tension and improve movement; Daniel Müller-Schott on Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto
July-2016
Chamber music tutor Tim Frederiksen discusses putting together string quartets and we examine the history of violin making in Amsterdam. Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis discuss their latest collaboration, and there’s an In Focus on a Stradivari cello. Plus bassist Dan Styffe on Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel.
May-2016
In a special edition to mark the 100th anniversary of Yehudi Menuhin’s birth, we ask some of the people who knew him best fr their memories of the great violinist. We also explore Menuhin’s photo archive and examine his favourite instrument, the ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri. Plus two free supplements: Cremona 2016 and Degrees, your guide to string teaching courses around the world.
December-2015
Baroque violinist Rachel Podger discusses the perils of scordatura and we a late-period Guarneri violin comes under scrutiny. Christian Tetzlaff completes his Masterclass on Beethoven, there’s a Kodály retrospective and double bassist DaXun Zhang gives his Practice Diary. Plus Jan Vogler on Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations
September-2015
Violinist Nicola Benedetti discusses her work with young players in our education special, while recent competition winners discuss their practice methods. We look back at the life and teaching style of luthier Peter Paul Prier, and Roby Lakatos gives a guide to gypsy fiddling. Plus Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson on the Brahms ‘Double’
August-2015
We talk to Itzhak Perlman, 70 this month, and investigate the story of America’s first female violin maker. Lynn Harrell gives a guide to resonant cello sound, and Rachel Barton Pine explains why Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto is her ‘good friend’. Plus a Masterclass on Brahms’s Viola Sonata and a tribute to Lindsay Quartet co-founder Peter Cropper.
June-2015
We talk to the Carducci Quartet about its upcoming Shostakovich quartet cycle, and examine the career of Gregor Piatigorsky. There’s a report on how acting techniques can benefit string players, and the second of two articles on the Andrea Amati ‘King’ cello. Plus Hilary Hahn on Vieuxtemps, Christian Tetzlaff on Beethoven, and a celebration of Leopold Auer’s life and career.
April-2015
Simon Rattle discusses the Berlin Philharmonic’s characteristic string sound in a German speical, which also includes articles on cellist Anja Thauer and the development of instruments in Markneukirchen. Alban Gerhardt discusses playing Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, Tabea Zimmermann gives a Masterclass on Hindemith and there’s a guide to double bass bowing from Jeff Bradetich. Plus Sarah Chang’s practice diary.
January-2015
December-2014
We interview Korean violinist Kyung Wha Chung and examine a 1767 violin by José Contreras, described by some as ‘the Spanish Stradivari’. Russian pedagogue Maya Glezarova recalls her 70 years of teaching, and Augustin Dumay and Louis Lortie reflect on performing as a duo. Plus a Dvořák Masterclass with 14 audio examples
October-2014
A Girolamo Amati contralto viola reveals its secrets in an extensive study, and we talk to US quartet Brooklyn Rider about its latest multidisciplinary project. We examine the legacy of French violinist–composer Jean-Marie Leclair and there’s a Masterclass on Rimsky-Korsakov. Plus mutes, chin rests, violin cases and carbon-fibre bows in Accessories 2014.
September-2014
In our special education issue, some of today’s top string players and teachers recall the tutors who made the biggest impression on them. We explore a youth education scheme in London, the Bologna school of violin making, and how to deal with unruly kids. Plus, Leon Bosch on Dittersdorf’s Second Double Bass Concerto
August-2014
We mark the centenary of the First World War’s outbreak with an issue on music and conflict, exploring string works about war, soldiers’ instruments, and the work of Musicians without Borders. Plus Tamsin Waley-Cohen’s Practice Diary, the Henschel Quartet on Schulhoff, and taking care of instruments in summer.
July-2014
Latvian violinist Baiba Skride discusses her love of modern repertoire and Didier Lockwood talks about his genre-hopping career. We talk to artists including Natalie Clein, Daniel Hope and Rachel Barton Pine about premiering new works, and explore the world of commissioning instruments. Plus Gary Karr on the plight of orchestral bassists.
June-2014
We examine a 1774 Guadagnini violin that has survived in almost pristine condition, and talk to string players who have set up their own festivals. Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow recalls his time at the New York Philharmonic, and orchestra principals discuss the works of Strauss. Plus Leonidas Kavakos gives a Masterclass on the Brahms Violin Concerto
April-2014
The late cellist János Starker receives an eight-page tribute, with exclusive photo galleries and memories from friends and colleagues. Fiddler Sam Sweeney gives a Masterclass on the English folk style, complete with videos, and we investigate career development in the orchestral world. Plus, in-depth interviews with the Arditti Quartet and Neville Marriner
February-2014
The double bass takes centre stage, as we interview six of today’s top young bassists and investigate teaching, making, and travelling with a bass. There’s a Masterclass from Dan Styffe, Joel Quarrington’s practice diary, François Rabbath on the things that inspire him, and a report on the state of the international double bass market. Plus an interview with veteran bassist Barbara Sanderling
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.
