The Strad Shop

Hilary Hahn talks about Bach and we discover how Brescian instruments developed. Edicson Ruiz gives a double bass Masterclass and we learn the secrets of orchestral auditions. Plus Rachel Podger’s Sentimental Work

We talk to the Doric Quartet about bows and recordings, and get tips on making arrangements of non-classical works. Anne-Sophie Mutter tells us her Sentimental Work there’s a Beethoven Masterclass and we look back on Henryk Szeryng’s playing career. Plus, the fall and rise of violin making in Hungary.

We look at Leonard Bernstein’s contributions to string music and investigate the development of the French bow button. Joshua Bell gives a Masterclass on Bruch and Jennifer Koh gives her Sentimental Work.

Plus a FREE guide to the inaugural Tokyo Stradivarius Festival

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.

Ray Chen on the importance of social media and popular culture in encouraging a new generation of players; a close look at the most expensive violin in the world, the ‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri ‘Del Gesù’; Quartet coaching with Alfred Brendel; Life Lessons from violinist Leila Josefowicz