The Strad Podcast

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)

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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 

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

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

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

Luis Cabrera the principal bass of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. When he’s not doing either of those jobs, he’s tackling some monumental solo repertoire – Bach’s Cello Suite no.1… on double bass!

Watch Luis perform the Courante from Bach Cello Suite no.1: https://bit.ly/3NZhxYk

Read Edicson Ruiz's thoughts on the Bach Cello Suites on double bass in our July 2023 issue Sentimental work.

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II - Allemande

Suite for Solo Cello no.1 in G major BWV 1007

Johann Sebastian Bach

Luis Cabrera, double bass

Photo credit: Elbert Besaris 

Most string players will get to a point in their career where their faithful instrument has served them to the best of its ability, and the time has come for the player to think about upgrading to a fine instrument. It can be very exciting, the prospect of finding the best instrument, but also daunting – we don’t have to mention how expensive fine instruments go for, which understandably means that a lot of these options are out of reach for students or young emerging artists.

Read our article Postcard from Oslo: ‘Master to Master’ symposium in our May 2023 issue

Read about Johan Dalene's recent Stradivari acquisition, courtesy of the Anders Sveaas Trust

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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III: Rounds

Violin Concerto op.23

Thomas Adès

Peter Herresthal, violin / Norwegian Radio Orchestra / Andrew Manze

BIS

Photo courtesy Mats Bäcker

Tessa Lark’s long awaited Stradgrass Sessions album is out on 5 May, comprising a melting pot of styles, influences and collaborations in one disc. She spoke online editor Davina Shum recently about how her musical upbringing in Kentucky combining Americana and classical has shaped her, the versatility of her c.1600 Maggini violin, plus why one of the tracks on her album has her chasing good vibes.

Read our Session Report on the album in our October 2020 issue 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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Le Soka – Cheese in the Wine

Tessa Lark, violin

The Stradgrass Sessions

First Hand Records

Photo credit: Benjamin Allen

TwoSet Violin celebrated a significant milestone late in 2022: upon reaching 4 million subscribers on YouTube, the violin comedy duo put on a performance of a lifetime with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, with Brett Yang playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, and Eddy Chen joining him later for the Bach Violin Concerto for two violins. Not only this, but for the occasion, Tarisio loaned the pair two Stradivari violins from 1708 – the ‘Empress Caterina’ and ‘Regent Superb’. What an opportunity!

Brett Yang chats to online editor Davina Shum about his experience playing this instrument, what it taught him about his playing, as well as other instruments he’s played throughout his career.

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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III Allegro molto vivace

Violin Concerto in E minor op.64

Felix Mendelssohn

Brett Yang, violin / Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Rodolfo Barraez, conductor

How many people does it take to perform the Mendelssohn Octet? In the case of Malin Broman, one. You might remember her pandemic-era video where she performed all eight parts of the finale – including that fiendish opening in the second cello part. Malin speaks to online editor Davina Shum about her journey into multi-instrumentalism and the versatility and different perspectives that come with playing other instruments.

Watch Malin’s videos here!

One performer plays Mendelssohn’s Octet

Eight Malin Bromans perform ‘A Room of One’s Own’ by Britta Byström

Passacaglia by Händel/Halvorsen - but not as you know it!

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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IV: Presto

Octet in E-flat major op.20

Felix Mendelssohn

Malin Broman, vn 1 / Malin Broman, vn 2 / Malin Broman, vn 3 / Malin Broman, vn 4 / Malin Broman, va 1 / Malin Broman, va 2 / Malin Broman, vc 1 / Malin Broman vc 2