Olivia Wise

Rostropovich’s ‘Duport’ Strad Was the Beneficiary of New Ideas, Clients, and Materials

By Andrew Dipper In 1711, the year that Antonio Stradivari built the “Duport” cello, Cremona had suffered 11 years of the effects of the War of the Spanish Suc... Read More...

Alan Gilbert and NY Phil String Players Consider the Defining Achievements of Their Time Together

By Thomas May Two years ago, in February 2015, Alan Gilbert announced his surprising decision to step down from his position as music director of the New York ... Read More...

Five Players on the Magical Voices of Their Guadagnini Instruments

Compiled by Stephanie Powell Violinist Simone Porter The Guad: 1745 G.B. Guadagnini violin, Parma. I have had the privilege to play it for about two and a... Read More...

With the Grain: Learn How to Look at Wood Like a Violin Maker

When choosing a violin, it’s useful to look beyond the visual details to the bones of an instrument, beneath the paint and jewelry—the wood used to build it.

Violist Melia Watras on the Joys of Recording with Friends

By Melia Watras I owe a lot to Atar Arad. My beloved viola teacher when I was a student at Indiana University, Atar has had a profound influence on me, as a ... Read More...

This Spring’s Sale of the 1743 ‘ex-Havemeyer’ Guadagnini Broke Auction Records

By Inge Kjemtrup The dominance of instruments by Antonio Stradivari in the auction world was challenged in May 2016 with the record-breaking sale of the 1743... Read More...

Florian Leonhard violin authentication in an office

Florian Leonhard on a Mysterious Violin and the Process of Authentication

Over time, the authentication process becomes very much driven by instinct. To explain it I will go through the process of elimination that happens in my mind.

Cellist Matt Haimovitz Conjures Bach and Recent Commissions in a Crypt

By Cristina Schreil “We’re looking for the event in the crypt,” I announced. “Where is the crypt?” Four alarmed eyeballs stared back at me. It was the ... Read More...

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini’s Work Alluded to the Violins of Past Masters, But in a Style all His Own

By Philip J. Kass Ever since old violins first became cherished, we have formed romantic ideas about them and their makers. The truth of the matter is far more... Read More...

Violin-Viola Duo Chargaux on Their String-Forward Second Album

By Cristina Schreil “Do some futuristic stuff. Do something we haven’t seen before.” I’ve asked the Brooklyn-based violin-viola duo Chargaux what advice they... Read More...