Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto & String Quartet No. 3

Featuring

Antje Weithaas
Camerata Bern
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

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Performer Biography

Antje Weithaas, the violinist on this album, began playing at age 4 1/2 and has won several prestigious competitions, including the Kreisler Competition, Bach Competition, and International Joseph Joachim Violin Competition.

Critical Reception

The premiere of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto received a devastating critical reaction, with Viennese critic Eduard Hanslick famously stating that the violin was 'beaten, not played' and that the work 'stinks to the ear'.

Recording & Production

This recording of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and String Quartet was made without a conductor, a decision that initially caused some misgivings among the musicians.

Compositional Technique

Tchaikovsky's Third String Quartet, dedicated to the deceased violinist Ferdinand Laub, is performed here in a string orchestra version, with the addition of a double bass to enhance its symphonic character and convey its themes of sadness and darkness.

Composition History

Tchaikovsky composed his Violin Concerto in just three weeks, inspired by the companionship and music-making with his former student, violinist Iosif Kotek, whom he affectionately nicknamed 'Kotik'.

Interpretation

Antje Weithaas, the soloist, aimed to interpret the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto by moving away from its traditional virtuoso-focused performance, seeking a fresh approach based on the score.

Composer Biography

Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto was composed during a period of personal turmoil, following the failure of his marriage to Antonina Ivanovna Miliukova, which led to a temporary writer's block.