Antonín Dvořák - Violin Concerto; Serenade for Strings (Antje Weithaas)

Information

Composer: Antonín Dvořák

• Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53, B. 108
• Serenade for Strings, Op. 22, B. 52

Antje Weithaas, violin

Camerata Bern

Date: 2025

Label: Cavi-Music

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Violinist Antje Weithaas and Camerata Bern present a new album pairing Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A Minor with his Serenade for Strings. While the 1875 Serenade—premiered in 1876—remains one of Dvořák’s most beloved works for its chamber-like intimacy, the 1879 Violin Concerto is less often performed despite its sweeping symphonic character and technical brilliance. Weithaas highlights the concerto’s daunting challenges for soloists, with demanding passages from the very start, yet praises its richness and beauty. Together, these contrasting works showcase Dvořák’s versatility, offering both lyrical intimacy and large-scale orchestral drama in a single program.

Born in 1966 in Germany, violinist Antje Weithaas began playing at four and studied with Werner Scholz at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin. She won major competitions, including the Kreisler (1987), Bach (1988), and Joseph Joachim (1991). As a soloist, she has performed with leading German, European, Asian, and American orchestras under renowned conductors such as Ashkenazy, Marriner, and Oramo. Known for her energy, precision, and deep musical insight, Weithaas commands a wide repertoire from Mozart and Beethoven to Widmann, Shostakovich, and Gubaidulina. Former artistic director of Camerata Bern, she has made acclaimed recordings of Beethoven, Bruch, Bach, Ysaÿe, and Khachaturian. In 2023, she released the first volume of Beethoven’s violin sonatas with Dénes Várjon. A dedicated teacher at the Hanns Eisler School and Kronberg Academy, she also co-directs the Joachim Competition. She plays a 2001 Peter Greiner violin.