Editorís letterTwenty-five years ago, the Belcea Quartet formed at

Contributors(Kató Havas, page 56) teaches violin and viola based

SOUNDPOSTLetters, emails, online comments

On the beatA new two-year masters programme is set to give young European string players an edge in the competitive chamber music market. What’s the thinking behind the initiative?

PREMIERE of the MONTHDrowned in sound Using a solo line to fill every corner of the orchestral canvas

COMPETITIONS1 The International Tchaikovsky Competition has announced

NEW PRODUCTSStrings designed from the inside out to offer bassists maximum flexibility

Life lessonsThe French soloist talks about developing perspective, what teaching has taught him and how he learns from his own students

The human touchNo first prize was awarded in the violin section of this year’s Sendai International Music Competition, yet the Japanese contest showcased some sensitive and interesting performances, writes

Silver liningsThe opening of the 2019 Bravo! Vail Music Festival was beset by last-minute programme changes and inclement weather – yet despite the odds proved to be a rousing success, as Charlotte Smith reports

PASSING THE TORCHExpert encouragement in their early years helped turn the Belcea Quartet into one of today’s most formidable chamber ensembles. Twenty-five years after they started out, they talk to Tom Stewart about passing on their experience to the next generation – as well as continuing to gain knowledge themselves

HISTORY IS NOWGrowing numbers of young musicians are incorporating elements of historically informed performance into their playing. Charlotte Gardner investigates the reasons behind this phenomenon, explores the options for aspiring period artists and receives advice from both fledgling and long-standing practitioners

LIFE OUT OF BALANCEWhile many luthiers are happy making stringed instruments to the standard form, others are keen to explore the possibilities of alternative patterns. Peter Somerford discovers how asymmetric designs can affect tone quality, projection, acoustics and player comfort

A TEACHER FOR ALLKató Havas, the celebrated and muchloved Hungarian violinist and pedagogue, died on 31 December 2018 aged 98. Five former colleagues and students remember her important and generous influence on their own playing and teaching

CHANGING EVERYTHING AND NOTHINGAt the end of last year violinist Christian Tetzlaff made his second official recording of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in two live performances, resulting in an interpretation much more in keeping with his own personal understanding of the work

AN UNEXPECTED TWISTThe few remaining guitars by Antonio Stradivari have distinctive characteristics – which proved useful when another example came to light recently in a museum collection. Emiliano Marinucci and Lorenzo Frignani tell the story

PERFECT 5 thsBritish violinist Rodney Friend has spent many years formulating his method for achieving a relaxed left-hand position. Here, he shares his voyage of discovery with Charlotte Smith

THE JEWEL OF TAIWANThe Chimei Museum in Taiwan houses the largest collection of stringed instruments in the world. The Strad Calendar 2020 marks 30 years since its founding, as Dai-Ting Chung and Andrew Guan highlight some of the remarkable treasures within its walls

IGNACIO FLETAA close look at the work of great and unusual makers

Asymmetric neck shapingA method that allows for deviation from the standard neck outline, for the comfort of the individual player

JULIA VAN DER WAERDENA peek into lutherie workshops around the world

Shaping the headViolin makers have always been aware of physical issues like repetitive strain injury – but it’s just as important to take care of their mental health and wellbeing. John Beames examines some of the most common problems, and suggests some ways to combat them

MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTOEsther Yoo imagines a ballroom of swirling summer dancers and secret trysts as she talks through the sparkling third movement of this magical work

‘Tuning’ the fingers: the importance of practising in 5thsHow the ability to play in perfect 5ths can help you to hone your position, intonation and vibrato

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

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From the ARCHIVEViolin teacher Noel Hale introduces Kató Havas’s New Approach to the world. This article prompted a huge correspondence in The Strad, reproduced in Havas’s 1968 autobiography

SALVATORE ACCARDOThe Italian violinist recalls how the great soloists of the 20th century had similar feelings about the Beethoven Violin Concerto – and why it left them terrified