ContributorsEVAN DAVENPORT (Trade Secrets, page 58) is a

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LETTER OF THE MONTH WINSone from a selection of products from The

Editor's letterAs well as being one of the world’s

On the beatNews and events from around the world this month

Love is all aroundDvořák’s Cello Concerto is the inspiration behind a new piece in the genre

COMPETITIONSSalomé Bonnema Liam Byrne Anastasia Kobekina BONNEMA PHOTO

NEW PRODUCTSCELLO CASE Worth its weight Gewa reveals its

Life lessonsTai Murray

Auspicious beginningsThe first violin edition of the Global Music Education League competition took place in Beijing following a four-year delay due to the pandemic. Emma Baker travelled to China to hear the finals

‘Everybody’s playing like their life depends upon it’Violinist Joshua Bell chats with Pauline Harding about transcending the pyrotechnics of Paganini, the inspiring ethos of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and celebrations to mark the centenary of the orchestra’s founder, Neville Marriner

Straight from the heartCan a new work encourage young, classically trained string players to lose their fear of improvisation and find their individual voice? Violinist Christina Åstrand and composer Signe Lykke explain the concept to Andrew Mellor

PARISIAN SPLENDOURHaving perfected his skills in the French capital, German bow maker Richard Otto Gläsel was much inspired by the work of his Gallic forebears, from Voirin to Vigneron. Gennady Filimonov tells his story and examines several of his finest works

SCENES FROM A LIFEAs the Carducci Quartet releases its third Shostakovich disc, Tom Stewart hears from the group’s violist and cellist about the extreme contrasts between the two featured pieces – the ninth and fifteenth string quartets

AN OLD-SCHOOL GENTLEMANRussian cellist Boris Pergamenschikow enjoyed an influential career both teaching and playing in Europe after leaving the Soviet Union, before his untimely death twenty years ago. Oskar Falta examines his legacy and hears from some of his former students

X MARKS THE SPOTFor many years the design of the cello bridge has remained constant – but could it be improved? Sebastian Gonzalez presents the results of a comparison between the standard French bridge and a newly designed model, while on page 52 Gaian Amorim tracks the development of the bridge

JOSEPH MARQUÈSIN FOCUS A close look at the work of great and unusual makers

Making a decorative fleur-de-lysTRADE SECRETS

MY SPACEA peek into lutherie workshops around the world

Cultivating wisdomMAKING MATTERS

BEETHOVEN CELLO SONATA NO.5, SECOND AND THIRD MOVEMENTSMASTERCLASS

Core valuesTECHNIQUE

ReviewsCONCERTS

From the ARCHIVENew York correspondent Thomas C. Dawson reports on a performance by Maud Powell and solves a mystery regarding the violins of virtuoso Ede Reményi (1828–98)

ELENA URIOSTEThe Violin Sonata by French composer Mel Bonis was a revelation for the US-born violinist, revealing both a new sound world and innovative techniques in music writing