For any violinist, the Brahms Concerto is a special challenge and a precious gem, a piece one works on for decades. I studied it more intesely for the first time when I was around 18 years old. We tackled the challenge of performing and recording without a conductor. Of course, when I otherwise perform this concerto with a doncutor, I intesely learn and think through the orchestra part in my head. It is a challenge I am aware of, and I thus probably would never had dared to perform this concerto without a conductor. I probably would not have dared to embark on this adventure with any other ensemble. - Antje Weithaas
