The Strad Podcast

Episode 49: Zina Schiff and Avlana Eisenberg on mother and daughter collaboration

Violin and conductor duo of Zina Schiff and Avlana Eisenberg speak to online editor Davina Shum about their musical and familial collaboration. They speak about their new album with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra comprising the music of American composer William Grant Still.

What’s it like for Zina, to be conducted by her daughter? What was it like for Avlana, listening to her mother practise throughout her childhood? The duo speak about the power of familial connection in music making, plus Zina provides a little introduction to William Grant Still, to those who are unfamiliar.

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:

Facebook.com/thestrad

Twitter: @TheStradMag

Instagram: @the_strad_

 

Summerland

Violin Suite II: Mother and Child

William Grant Still

Zina Schiff, violin / Avlana Eisenberg, conductor / Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Naxos

Episode 48: Noah Bendix-Balgley on performing under pressure as a concertmaster

First concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Noah Bendix-Balgley shares his audition process for winning the top job, as well as his personal experiences playing some of the most challenging, exposed, notorious, yet beautiful concertmaster solos in orchestral repertoire. He shares advice for violinists going for concertmaster auditions, as well as why he believes a concertmaster job is a truly fulfilling role.

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:

Facebook.com/thestrad

Twitter: @TheStradMag

Instagram: @the_strad_

 

Romance for violin and piano op.23

Amy Beach

Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin / Ohad Ben-Ari, piano

 

Photo credit: Nikolaj Lund

Episode 47: Korinthia Klein on basic instrument maintenance

Luthier Korinthia Klein offers tips to players on keeping instruments in good shape as the seasons change. She illustrates the importance of keeping a level-headed, informed approach when dealing with minor instrument and bow ailments, in an aim to empower players to become responsible caretakers for their instruments.

Check out Korinthia’s article Basic Maintenance: Avoiding instrument carnage as featured in our January 2021 issue.

Korinthia’s book My Violin Needs Help!: A Repair Diagnostics Guide for Players and Teachers is available from her website.

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:

Facebook.com/thestrad

Twitter: @TheStradMag

Instagram: @the_strad_

Photo credit: Itzel Avila

Episode #46: Billy Tobenkin on starting the cello at 25

 Cellist Billy Tobenkin shares his thoughts on starting an instrument as an adult. Billy had a career as a writer and copy editor before delving into the world of cello at the age of 25. 15 years later, Billy works professionally as a cello teacher and performer in LA. He shares his experiences of starting the instrument with no musical background, the challenges faced by adult beginners, as well as words of advice to avoid discouragement.

Check out Billy’s website at adultcello.com

Sergei Rachmaninov – Cello Sonata in G minor op.19

III Andante

Billy Tobenkin, cello / Tae Yeon Lim, piano

Episode 45: The New Zealand String Quartet on its 35th anniversary

The New Zealand String Quartet celebrate its 35^th anniversary in 2022. We hear from founding member Gillian Ansell about the quartet’s early days in 1987, first violinist Helene Pohl and cellist Rolf Gjelsten about keeping quartet and married life separate, and newest member Monique Lapins’s philosophies for including all voices equally in a professional quartet.

Watch the NZSQ perform works by New Zealand composers here: https://www.nzsq.org.nz/watch

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.
Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:
Facebook.com/thestrad
Twitter: @TheStradMag
Instagram: @the_strad_

 

Douglas Lilburn, String Quartet in E minor

I – Andante

II - Allegretto

 Naxos Classical (2015)

Producer: Norbert Kraft & Bonnie Silver, Engineer: Norbert Kraft

 

Photo credit: Bruce Foster

Episode 44: Amit Peled on playing in cello choirs

What do NBA basketball and cello choir have in common? Cellist and basketball enthusiast Amit Peled shares the educational and professional benefits of playing in an ensemble where all members play the same instrument, as demonstrated in his Mount Vernon Virtuosi CelloGang.

 

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:

Facebook.com/thestrad

Twitter: @TheStradMag

Instagram: @the_strad_

 

Johannes Brahms: Symphony no.3 II Andante

Arranged for eight cellos and piano by Konstantin Blagojevic

Amit Peled and the Mount Vernon Virtuosi CelloGang

Solus et Una

CTM Classics

 

Photo credit: Philip Bermingham

Episode #43: Jan Vogler on music festivals

Cellist Jan Vogler speaks about the magic of music festivals. As artistic and general director of the Dresden Music Festival, he shares how early memories of the Marlboro Music Festival are linked to special moments in his life, how he hopes to create an environment where ideas, culture and friendships are cultivated, as well as why concert programmers should look to the youth of today when exploring diversification of musical genres.

The 45th Dresden Music Festival Magic takes place from 11 May until 10 June. More information can be found here.

Jan’s new album Pop Songs will be released 6 May on Sony Classical.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB

Not a student? Get 20% off an online subscription with the code EASTER22 until 30 April: https://bit.ly/3kfCQVO

 

Air ‘When I am Laid in Earth (Dido’s Lament)’

From Dido and Aeneas

Henry Purcell

 

‘Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen’

From The Magic Flute K.620

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

 

Pop Songs

Jan Vogler, cello, / BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Omer Meir Wellber

Sony Classical

 

Photo credit: Marco Grob

Episode #42: Kerenza Peacock on environmental awareness and musical connection

In a week where we explore how musicians are affected by environmental issues, violinist Kerenza Peacock speaks about how musicians share similar qualities to trees – including the ability to communicate widely without words and the benefits of a constructive, collaborative community. Using connection through music, Kerenza was recently responsible for coordinating a video of 94 violinists from 29 countries playing in harmony and in solidarity with sheltering Ukrainians in the outbreak of the war.

Arboretum Suite for solo violin and strings

III - The Vanishing Mahogany of the Amazon

Air – Oliver Davis

Kerenza Peacock, violin / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Paul Bateman, conductor

Signum Records

 

Trad. Ukrainian: Verbovaya Doschechka

Violinists Support Ukraine

http://violinistssupportukraine.com/

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Ealovega

Episode #41: Ani Aznavoorian on Armenian music

Cellist Ani Aznavoorian shares the significance of playing music that celebrates and commemorates her Armenian culture. As well as continuing her cultural heritage through music, Ani also speaks about doing so in another way, as the proud player of a cello crafted by her father Peter Aznavoorian.

On 15 May 2022, the Music Institute of Chicago Presents The Aznavoorian Duo in Gems from Armenia - a concert celebrating the sounds of their ancestors through a panoramic survey of Armenian classical music. The concert will be held at Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston, IL at 3pm CT. More information can be found here.

 

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:

Facebook.com/thestrad

Twitter: @TheStradMag

Instagram: @the_strad_

 

Chinar Es – Komitas Vartabed (1869-1935)

Ani Aznavoorian, cello / Marta Aznavoorian, piano

Gems of Armenia

Cedille Records

CDR 90000 209

 

Photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Episode 40: Naomi Yandell on teaching beginner bow holds

Cambridge-based cellist, teacher, music consultant, author and editor Naomi Yandell has written extensively on aspects of string teaching, including Trinity sightreading books, Take your bow and Top Banana: 20 performance pieces with attitude for young string players with Celia Cobb and numerous Opinion pieces for The Strad, including her latest article in the April 2022 issue.

She chats to fellow cellist and teacher Davina Shum about beginner bow hold strategies – a concept that many teachers profess to have a rather hit-and-miss success rate with students. Naomi highlights the importance of ‘feel’, using relatable analogies, tailoring one’s method to the student, as well as advocating the use of short bows for children.

Check out thestrad.com for the latest news and articles on all things to do with string playing. Register and subscribe to access exclusive archival content from 2010 onwards.

Student discount! Get 50% off an online subscription! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3eQ75AB 

Find us on social media:

Facebook.com/thestrad

Twitter: @TheStradMag

Instagram: @the_strad_

 

Some of Naomi's previous Opinion pieces:

https://www.thestrad.com/debate/opinion-reset-refresh-restore/14593.article

https://www.thestrad.com/playing-hub/opinion-the-long-and-short-of-it/10498.article

https://www.thestrad.com/debate/opinion-make-em-laugh/13436.article

https://www.thestrad.com/playing-hub/sightreading-is-a-skill-that-should-be-taught-early/7050.article

https://www.thestrad.com/debate/opinion-a-light-touch/11046.article