Editor’s letterFew string quartets perform as readily with musicians

Contributors(Charles François Gand, page 32) graduated from the

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THE MORE THE MERRIERFor the Modigliani Quartet, working with other artists has always been a priority – one that continues this year as the group turns its attention to Schubert. Charlotte Gardner speaks to the French foursome about their early development, working through Covid times and acting as artistic directors

DAWN OF PARISIAN SPLENDOURA talented luthier and a shrewd businessman, Charles François Gand had a seismic effect on the Paris violin world despite his relatively small output. Florent Boyer presents an in-depth examination of several Gand instruments to show the development of his style

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PARALLEL CAREERSAutumn 2020 was scheduled to be a big one for violinist and conductor Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, with the start of his first music directorship in France and his conducting debut at the Royal Danish Opera. Did it go to plan? Very nearly, he tells Andrew Mellor

CLOWNING AROUNDFor violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja a bout of tendonitis was the perfect opportunity to widen her musical perspective by taking on the title role in Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire, as she tells Toby Deller

BEHIND THE CURVEThe evolution of the bow is inextricably tied up wiThthe needs of the player, and the changing face of society. Paolo Sarri examines the development of the ‘ancient’ and ‘modern’ curves of the bow stick, dispelling a number of myths along the way

THE REMARKABLE REVOLUTIONARYToo long overlooked, the extraordinary life of 18th-century violinist and composer the Chevalier de Saint-Georges has once more been celebrated over the past 25 years. Yet his compositions remain unfairly neglected, writes Kevin MacDonald

Brave new educational world?The recent normalisation of virtual learning has raised the profile of subscription-based online instrumental tuition - but it’s still no substitute for one-to-one teaching

NEWS IN BRIEFCellist William Bruce awarded ESTA Award biUy/3ryM4JE

OBITUARIESIsraeli violinist Ivry Gitlis died on 24 December at

COMPETITION & AWARD WINNERSTop prize at the Pablo Casals International Award for

Fighting fire with fireA project for string quartet, dancers and electronics that responds to the changing world around us

In the balanceSimilarities on the outside belie crucial differences within

Life lessonsThe US cello soloist and recording artist on following her instinct on a path to true musical fulfilment

ANTONIO CASINIA close look at the work of great and unusual makers

Making a pigment grinderA device that removes the effort from the ffresome business of grinding varnish pigments by hand

MARCUS KLIMKELOCATION

Graduation studiesIs it possible to customise the sound and response of a newly built violin, in playing condition, for a specific musician? Ulf Kloo explains how it can be done, wiThthe help of a small wooden pin in the back plate

BACH'S VIOLIN SONATA IN E MAJOREarly music expert Simon Standage discusses historically informed performance, interpretation and balancing violin and harpsichord in the first two movements of BWV1016

Melodic string-crossingsHow to play controlled, smooThand seamless melodic lines

From the ARCHIVEQueen Victoria’s demise on 22 January prompts a reflection on the number of female violinists in the era she presided over

CAMILLE THOMASThe Franco-Belgian cellist gave an impassioned premiere performance of Fazil Say’s cello concerto ‘Never Give Up’ in 2018, and has now recorded the piece for Deutsche Grammophon