Editor’s letterANGELA LYONS Since its first appearance in the

ContributorsENRICO ALVARES (Heifetz as teacher, page 52) was

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

Under the spotlightThis month, the future of UK conservatoire education will be discussed at a London conference. How can educators best help their students to become 21st-century musicians?

NEWS IN BRIEFJULIA ALTUKHOVA Anastasia Kobekina granted use of 1698

OBITUARIESCARL PINI British–Australian violinist Carl Pini has died

Meeting of the mindsA string quartet that brings encounters between the French musical greats to life

COMPETITIONS1 Maria Ioudenitch IOUDENITCH PHOTO NISSOR ABDOURAKOV. DUE

Room to growA chin rest that can be tailored to players’ individual needs

INSTANT REPLAYMusicians Susanna Klein and Randall Pharr have created

ARTISTIC LICENCEItalian retailer Bogaro & Clemente has collaborated with

Life lessonsAmit Peled

Classical oasisThis summer, Dubai played host to the InClassica International Music Festival and Middle Eastern Classical Music Academy. Charlotte Smith braved soaring temperatures and an array of Covid travel regulations to witness performances by some of the world’s leading string players

A story’s endRunning from 27 August to 6 September, this year’s Musiktage Mondsee was the final edition to be directed by the Auryn Quartet. Laurence Vittes witnessed stylish performances amid stunning Austrian scenery –a fitting farewell to the 40-year-old ensemble

VENETIAN SPLENDOURMany of the great Italian double bass makers lived and worked in the city of Venice. Thomas Martin, George Martin and Martin Lawrence tell the stories of some of the leading names in the trade, with commentary on a number of their instruments

THE WORLD AT HIS FEETKnown principally as a revolutionary double bassist, Giovanni Bottesini was also a prolific composer and conductor. In celebration of his 200th birthday, Stephen Street looks at the life and career of a remarkable artist – and introduces us to his catalogue of works

UNITING voiceSouth African cellist-singer-composer Abel Selaocoe’s genre-defying performances have earned him several recent awards and a recording contract with Warner Classics. Tom Stewart meets the Manchester-based musician following his powerful BBC Proms 2021 debut

THE MAGIC TOUCHNew research has revealed how Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ all used tonewood that had been heavily treated with chemicals prior to carving. Wenjie Cai and Hwan-Ching Tai explain the study’s findings, and suggest it could indicate that the Cremonese makers were influenced by the contemporary alchemical beliefs

Words from the MASTERAyke Agus served as Heifetz’s personal accompanist during classes and performances for the last 15 years of his life. Here, she shares recollections of his practice routine and teaching methods with Enrico Alvares

WILLIAM FERGUSONIN FOCUS A close look at the work of

Making an invisible neck graftA procedure that takes a little longer than the standard method, but results in an almost undetectable fitting

MY SPACEA peek into lutherie workshops around the world

The imitation gameIn 1927 a cache of documents came to light, purportedly from the Stradivari workshop – and fooled some of the leading experts of the day. Carlo Chiesa explains how the case turned out to be an elaborate forgery

A LESSON IN PERFORMING SHORT PIECESMASTERCLASS

TECHNIQUEHow to play a chop groove Mix up

CONCERTSYour monthly critical round-up of performances, recordings and publications

RECORDINGS★ TRANSFORMATION BACH Partita no.3 in E major

BOOKSThe (Fr)agile Orchestra: Empowerment strategies for orchestras Ed.

From the ARCHIVEFROM THE STRAD DECEMBER 1951 VOL.62 NO.740

ARNOLD STEINHARDTFor the former leader of the Guarneri Quartet, Schubert’s Fantasy in C major is one of the most life-affirming works in the repertoire, as well as a test of technical skill