Episodes
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Episode 94: a theatrical Verklärte Nacht with cellist Matthew Barley
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Cellist Matthew Barley spoke to Davina recently about Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, or Transfigured Night – a piece which is so epically challenging and takes the players and listeners on an emotional journey.
Matthew speaks about bringing other disciplines of theatre, electronics, dance and lighting to present a theatrical version of the work, which will be performed with the Mullova Ensemble in October.
The programme will be performed at Milton Court (London) on 18 October and Turner Sims (Southampton) on 19 October 2023.
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Photo credit: Marcus Tate
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Episode 93: creative storytelling with cellist Alexander Hersh
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
You may have seen a video premiere on thestrad.com last week of a film called Absinthe featuring cellist Alexander Hersh. Absinthe is more than a film series – it’s also an album of music featuring works that were written before the European ban of the highly alcoholic drink, the music from which provides the soundtrack to a crazy narrative that sees Alexander being haunted by a cello-shaped bottle of green liquid. Alexander speaks to online editor Davina about combining film making, editing, directing, acting – not to mention music making – in collaboration with some close friends to build a creative form of storytelling that provides numerous access points for a wide range of audiences, as well as what classical music can learn from other creative industries.
Watch the first instalment of Absinthe here.
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Scriabin Poem, Op. 32, No. 1 in F-Sharp Major
Alexander Hersh, cello / Victor Santiago Asuncion, piano
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Episode 92: remembering violinist Geoff Nuttall of the St. Lawrence String Quartet
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
The musical world was shaken in October 2022 when news broke out of Geoff Nuttall’s passing. Geoff was the founding first violinist of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, an ensemble that has enchanted audiences worldwide since 1989 and served as ensemble in residence at Stanford University since 1998.
The St. Lawrence’s co-founding violist Lesley Robertson joins online editor Davina in this episode, reminiscing about Geoff – including his incredible energy, his connection with audiences, plus the musical work that is the most fitting musical epitaph, featured in the group’s recent release of Haydn string quartets.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Haydn String Quartet in B flat major op.76 no.4 ‘Sunrise’
I Allegro con spirito
St. Lawrence String Quartet
Phenotypic Recordings
Photo credit: Marco Borggreve
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Episode 91: ’The Music Critic’ with violinist Aleksey Igudesman
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Coming to US audiences in October is Aleksey Igudesman’s show The Music Critic, which, with a cast of musicians and the actor John Malkovich, combines classical music, comedy and theatre to focus on 'the most horrible reviews of the most beautiful music ever written.'
Aleksey spoke to online editor Davina recently about the ideas behind the show, what we can learn from reviews and critics, as well as how to deal with a bad review.
Watch the trailer for The Music Critic here
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Schumann Piano Quartet - Andante cantabile
Dvorak Piano Quintet - Scherzo
Violins: Aleksey Igudesman, So-ock Kim
Viola: Max Baillie
Cello: Tanja Tetzlaff
Piano: Hyung-ki Joo
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Episode 90: on the road with the Aizuri Quartet
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Gracing the headlines recently is the Aizuri Quartet, which has announced two new members of the ensemble in advance of its busy 2023/24 performing season. The upcoming year sees the quartet performing a range of repertoire around the US. Here to speak with online editor Davina in this episode is violinist Emma Frucht, who shared her insights and strategies for life on the road as a quartet – including how to prepare new works for a tour, ways to cope while travelling, as well as how the quartet makes the most out of its rehearsal time – particularly when time is limited.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Komitas Vardapet (arr. Sergei Aslamazian) – Armenian Folk Songs
Yergink Ampel A (It's Cloudy)
Earthdrawn Skies
Aizuri Quartet
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Episode 89: playing in Broadway shows with violist Stephanie Baer
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Stephanie Baer is a violist who, in addition to serving as director of string studies and orchestras, plus professor of viola and chamber music at NYU Steinhardt, has enjoyed a multi-faceted musical career within the New York community. Notably, Stephanie held the chair of principal viola in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera for 22 years. Phantom closed on Broadway earlier this year, but Stephanie shares with online editor and cellist Davina Shum on how she got started playing in Broadway shows, as well as how the versatility required in musical theatre bands and orchestras feeds your classical playing.
She speaks about the Broadway Orchestra, unique to NYU Steinhardt, which aims to train up students to play in musicals and ready themselves for a freelance career. Also discussed are strategies for keeping things fresh when you’re playing the same show every night!
Read Davina's articles about musical theatre here:
Read: Opinion: A case for depping
Read: How I completed a 118-show run (without losing my mind)
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Episode 88: Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop with cellist Mike Block
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Happening from 6 to 12 August this year is the Silkroad Global Musician Workshop. Silkroad was founded by Yo-Yo Ma and aims to use arts to inspire cultural exchange and collaboration.
Cellist and director of the Global Musician Workshop Mike Block shares how musicians representing different cultures, traditions and disciplines come together for the training programme, which is modelled after the genesis of the Silkroad Ensemble, and creates an environment that fosters learning and collaboration. Mike emphasises the individuals behind every instrument and culture and how this leads to unexpected, yet rewarding exchanges.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Garfield's Blackberry Blossom
Biribá Union
Mike Block, cello / Christylez Bacon, beat-box / Patricia Ligia, electric bass
Photo credit Kelly Lorenz
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Episode 87: Yoga and string playing with violinist Melissa White
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
The principles of yoga are so easily transferred to string playing and vice versa – concepts such as thinking about one’s breath, mindfulness, discipline and being kind to oneself. Violinist Melissa White is a trained yogi and co-founder of Intermission, a programme that unites body, mind, breath and music making with yoga and meditation. She spoke to online editor Davina Shum just before she embarked on working at the Heifetz Institute as the yoga instructor and chatted about her journey into discovering yoga, the role of the breath in string playing, as well as her favourite exercises and approaches in incorporating yoga with her music making.
Check out the Intermission YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@intermission1777
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Photo credit: Dario Acosta
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Can you imagine playing Kreisler’s violin? If you’re Francisco Fullana, you don’t have to imagine. He is lucky enough to get to play the 1735 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ 'Mary Portman, ex-Kreisler' violin, thanks to Clement and Karen Arrison through the Stradivari Society of Chicago.
He joins online editor Davina Shum in this episode to 'nerd out' on fine violins, speaking about the relationship he has cultivated with this violin over six years of playing and exploring the instrument.
Francisco also shares how the violin contributed specifically to his new album Spanish Light, which comprises works by Spanish composers, including Turina, Sarasate, Granados and more.
Spanish Light is out on Orchid Classics on 21 July 2023.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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Romanza andaluza - Pablo de Sarasate
Francisco Fullana, violin / Alba Ventura, piano
Spanish Light
Orchid Classics ORC100250
Photo credit: Miguel Arranz
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Episode 85: the Dudok Quartet on ’What Remains’ and eclecticism
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
When you hear the word ‘eclectic’, what do you think of? Random, perhaps? Eclectic does not mean random, as illustrated by the guests of this episode from the Dudok Quartet.
Violinist Marleen Wester and cellist David Faber speak to online editor Davina Shum about the quartet’s new album What Remains, an eclectic mix of repertoire spanning 1000 years. What brings together music from the medieval era to the modern day? Marleen and David speak about how different voices coming together in the form of repertoire, instruments and quartet personnel are the grounds for collaboration and linking tradition with progression.
Check out thestrad.com for the latest news, articles and reviews on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
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What Remains (String Quartet no.4) – Joey Roukens
I: Oscillations
II: Motectum
Dudok Quartet
What Remains
Rubicon
Photo credit: Green Room Creatives, Yuri Andries