My love affair with historic recordings began long before I started to play violin. Recordings by Heifetz, Ginette Neveau and Ida Haendel were what made me decide to become a violinist. What I wanted to do is more or less go back to the days when making records was rather different to what it is now: set the microphones very close, use almost no reverb, record as much as possible in full live takes, and - if possible, use vintage equipment. I think it makes for a more authentic experience, which is exactly what I wanted to recreate: a trip back in time. - Dunja Lavrova
