The Strad Directory 2024
The Strad Directory 2023
The Strad Calendar 2023: The Australian Collection
In the past few years, Australia has become a classical music heartland with a number of its orchestras and ensembles achieving world renown. Many of its string players now perform on world-class instruments made by some of the most respected luthiers ever to have lived.
· 1585 Gasparo da Salò double bass
· c.1600 G.P. Maggini viola
· 1709 'Scotta' Antonio Stradivari violin
· 1714 Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ violin
· 1720 Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ violin
· 1728/29 Antonio Stradivari violin
· 1729 Guarneri ‘filius Andreae’ cello
· 1743 'Carrodus' Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ violin
· 1743 G.B. Guadagnini cello
· 1760 Nicolò Gagliano violin
· 1784 G.B. Guadagnini violin
· 1859 'Karrman' Vuillaume violin
The Strad Directory 2022
The Strad Calendar 2022: Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation
For this year’s calendar, The Strad has partnered with the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation. Established in 1988, it has accumulated one of the largest collections of instruments in Europe, with a total value estimated at over €36 million. More than 400 are stringed instruments, along with 250 bows.
The Strad Calendar 2021: Dextra Musica
This year’s calendar celebrates the work of Dextra Musica, the Norwegian foundation that has built up a fine collection of historical and contemporary instruments over the past 15 years. All the instruments are in daily use, being loaned out both to top soloists and to up-and-coming young players.
The Strad Directory 2020
The Strad Calendar 2019: Antonio Stradivari Instruments
'For the 2020 Strad Calendar please click here'
Great Instruments
Every generation of violin makers has sought to analyse and understand the classic forms, and, for the past 122 years, the violin world's leading experts have assessed the latest research into the finest instruments in the pages of The Strad. Great Instruments includes 15 authoritative and beautifully illustrated articles from the past ten years, which provide unique insights into some of the world's most celebrated stringed instruments.
Full list of featured instruments
- c.1566 Andrea Amati Violin
- c.1600 Brothers Amati Cello
- 1619 Henry Jaye Viol
- c.1650 Jacob Stainer Tenor viola
- 1709 Antonio Stradivari 'Viotti' violin
- 1715 Antonio Stradivari 'Titian' violin
- 1716 Antonio Stradivari 'Messiah' violin
- 1717 Domenico Montagnana Violin
- 1717 Pietro Giacomo Rogeri Cello
- 1721 Antonio Stradivari 'Kruse' violin
- 1735 Guarneri 'del Gesu' 'Plowden' violin
- 1736 Carlo Bergonzi Violin
- 1736 Guarneri 'del Gesu 'Cessole', 'Teja-Ferni'
- 1740 Domenico Montagnana Cello
- 1808 Niclas Lupot Violin
Girolamo Amati II violin 1671 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
The son of Nicolò Amati, Girolamo Amati II was the last instrument maker of the illustrious Amati dynasty. Although he made fewer violins than his forebears, the ones that have survived show the work of a skilled luthier in his prime. This violin, made in the early part of his career, is a pristine example of his craftsmanship and shows many stylistic similarities to the work of his father. It is now housed in the Royal Academy of Music.
'The maple is delicately figured on the back and ribs, and plain for the neck-block. It has been perfectly quarter-cut. Unevenly scattered bearclaw figure ruffles the surface of the one-piece spruce front' – Barbara Meyer in the July 2022 issue
Read more in The Strad
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
Antonio Stradivari ‘Boissier, Sarasate’ Violin 1713 (FOLDED)
FOLDED VERSION
Made during Antonio's Stradivari's so-called 'golden period', the 1713 'Boissier, Sarasate' is in an excellent state of preservation. Housed in the museum of the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, it has rarely been played since it was left to the conservatoire by its last owner, the Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sarasate. This poster includes full outlines and measurements taken from a state-of-the-art 3D scan of the instrument.
'The surface retains a very good amount of varnish. It is remarkable that it has not been ‘protected’ with a layer of French polish, making it ever more outstanding and appreciated in today’s shop standards. The colour of the varnish is a light reddish-brown over Stradivari’s wonderful golden ground.' – Roberto Jardón Rico in the January 2024 issue of The Strad
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
Antonio Stradivari ‘Harrison’ violin 1693 FOLDED VERSION
A perfect example of Stradivari's Long Pattern, the 'Harrison' was for many years the principal performing instrument of Kyung Wha Chung. It is now part of the collection of the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, US.
Read more in The Strad
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
Antonio Stradivari ‘King Carlos IV’ violin 1709 poster – FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
The ‘King Carlos IV’ is one of the few instruments remaining from the collection of the Spanish king, who ruled from 1788 to 1808. Made during Stradivari’s ‘golden period’, it is one of the rare examples that is so well preserved that its sound is seldom matched by other violins of the era. The maple back has deep, wide flames descending slightly, which shimmer like water in the light. The scroll is incredibly round and bold, displaying an ultimate strength in making.
Florian Leonhard examines its history and present condition in The Strad magazine July 2023
Antonio Stradivari ‘Willemotte’ violin 1734 FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
A masterpiece of Antonio Stradivari's late period, the 'Willemotte' has a muscular ruggedness and strong character: massive, with generous edges, full arching and broad f-holes. It is now the principal performing instrument of violinist Leonidas Kavakos. Includes measurements, thickness maps and life-size CT scans.
'The sound of the "Willemotte" leaves one grasping for the right adjectives: complex, deep, pungent, something you almost taste as much as hear' - Sam Zygmuntowicz in the December 2020 edition of The Strad.
Our posters are shipped separately from other products. One tube can hold up to 10 posters. Save on postage costs by purchasing up to 10 posters per tube today.
Antonio Stradivari 1694 ‘Benecke’ violin FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
A masterpiece from Stradivari's 'Long Pattern' era, the 1694 'Benecke' remains in an almost pristine state of preservation. It was named for its owner Paul Benecke, a friend of Mendelssohn, and was greatly admired by the Hills, who called it 'probably the finest of the Long Pattern that we know of'. As well as containing full measurements, this poster includes micro-CT scans, thickness and arching maps, and all the information luthiers need to make their own copy.
'In contrast with the earlier production of Stradivari, the refined aesthetic of the ‘Benecke’... communicates a sense of fluidity and softness... which was a primary source of inspiration for other Italian makers working at the beginning of the 20th century, particularly in Milan' - Andrea Zanrè in the July 2020 edition.
Carlo Bergonzi ‘Baron Knoop’ violin 1735 poster FOLDED VERSION
FOLDED VERSION
This violin demonstrates all the hallmarks of Carlo Bergonzi's mature style, as well as the influences of both Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. Made from top-quality spruce and maple, it shows the exquisite care with which Bergonzi prepared all his finest instruments.
'Bergonzi's varnish has a deep, subdued fire which doesn’t try to emulate the visual effects obtained by his competitors' - Andrea Zanrè in the July 2021 edition of The Strad
The Strad Directory 2019
The Strad Calendar 2020: The Chimei Collection
The Chimei Museum in Taiwan contains possibly the largest collection of bowed stringed instruments in the world. Instrument and bow makers from across the globe have travelled to the Museum to examine its treasures: more than 1000 violin makers are represented, along with over 300 bow makers.Â
NOW AVAILABLE
The Strad Masterclass: Solo Violin
James Ehnes, Hilary Hahn, Leonidas Kavakos, Maxim Vengerov, Nikolaj Znaider: some of the violin world's top names have given their thoughts on key works of string repertoire within The Strad's pages. Now, for the first time, Masterclass: Solo Violin brings together articles from the magazine's popular Masterclass section over the past nine years.
The Strad Masterclass: Solo Cello
Cello Heroes
Steven Isserlis, Ralph Kirshbaum, Mischa Maisky and Natalia Gutman are among the cellists featured in this special publication from The Strad. It also includes a selection of historic articles from the magazine’s archives on Pierre Fournier, Daniil Shafran, Pablo Casals, Emanuel Feuermann, Jacqueline du Pré, Gregor Piatigorsky and others.
