From the ARCHIVEFROM THE STRAD MAY 1894 VOL.5 NO.49

CHRISTIAN POLTÉRAThe challenges of Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello led to a memorable encounter between the Swiss cellist and his childhood hero, Mstislav Rostropovich

CHECKLISTQuestions to help you find the right course and to prepare you for life as a student

Louisa Staples, violinHochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Berlin

Salomé Bonnema, violinRoyal Conservatoire The Hague, The Hague

Chris Njapa, celloUniversity of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town

Alex Ferkey, double bassTrinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London

Editorial's LetterSpanish violinist María Dueñas may only be 21

ContributorsJ. PAUL ANDERSON (Making Matters, page 68) is

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

No time like the presentWith musicians finding it harder to find traditional performing engagements, some players have found a profitable way to make livestreaming work for them

NEWS IN BRIEFBorletti-Buitoni Trust announces awards and fellowships bit.ly/4aqgMQl

OBITUARIESPATRICK IRELAND Violist Patrick Ireland, a founder member

PREMIERE of the MONTHSHADOWS AND FOG: The Jack Quartet performed the

COMPETITIONSAnna Im Gaeun Kim HRH The Duke of

In a new light UV TANNING LAMP

BOW WINDING MACHINE ALL WOUND UP

SHINY AND NEWThomastik has released the Rondo Gold violin strings.

Life lessonsThe Dutch violinist recalls his journey to discovering his own distinct style and sound

Familia first At the Sphinx Competition and SphinxConnect convention, Rita Fernandes experienced an array of inspiring events that went beyond simply addressing diversity in classical music

MAKING HER MARKAlthough she’s only 21, the Spanish violinist María Dueñas is already a rapidly rising star in the musical world. Tom Stewart speaks to the young virtuoso about how she has created her own unique and distinctive voice on the instrument

A MYSTERY UNVEILEDWhile scholars have scrutinised the making traditions of various Italian cities, the luthiers of Ferrara have been largely neglected – until now. Florian Leonhard presents the results of recent archival research into Alessandro Mezzadri and the Marconcini family, along with notes on their making styles

CREATION AND EVOLUTIONManchester Collective is an ensemble that doesn’t shy away from either transporting its listeners to unexpected places, or embracing change within its own identity. Members including co ‐founder and violinist Rakhi Singh talk to David Kettle about the group’s unique philosophy

A MUSICAL SMORGASBORDItalian violinist Fabio Biondi speaks to Robin Stowell about recording Swedish Baroque composer Johan Helmich Roman’s assaggi – solo musical morsels to whet the appetite

A PORTAL TO THE PASTGeminiani’s scale exercises in his seminal 1751 treatise The Art of Playing on the Violin may look puzzlingly random to modern eyes, but violinist Benjamin Shute argues that they can reveal useful insights into the thinking behind performance practice of the time

LET THE FLOWERS BLOOMA very specialist part of the bow maker’s craft is the addition of decorative inlay into a bow frog. Vladimiros Sorokin-Andreou presents his method for this intricate and delicate part of the process

CHRISTIAN WILHELM KNOPF A close look at the work of great and unusual makers

An alternative rib construction method Makers reveal their special techniques

ANTHONY MORTONLOCATION Greensboro, NC, US

New angles on old designs Points of interest to violin and bow makers

BEETHOVEN VIOLIN SONATA NO.8, FIRST MOVEMENTTeaching & Playing

Creative fingeringTeaching & Playing

New YorkCONCERTS

LondonINBAL SEGEV (CELLO) LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA/OKSANA LYNIV ROYAL

RECORDINGS★ ★AUERBACH Piano Trio no.1 DVOŘÁK Piano Trio

BOOKSBows, Strings and Dreams Leia Zhu 302PP ISBN

IN THE NEXT ISSUELaura van der Heijden The British cellist talks

INSPIRED TO SUCCEEDVIOLIN

COURSE LISTINGSARGENTINA Conservatorio Superior de Música Astor Piazzolla CONTACT