Virtuoso genius, total mastery of his instrument, and the gift of making well-known repertoire sound entirely new: that is the hallmark of top violinist Christian Tetzlaff. His recent recording of Elgar’s Violin Concerto once again showcases his mastery in distilling emotional narratives — perfectly in line with what Elgar himself wrote about the work: “It’s good! Awfully emotional! Too emotional, but I love it.” Equally emotional and personal is Johannes Brahms’s Fourth Symphony. While composing it, the celebrated master was initially overcome by doubt, even considering giving up. Fortunately, he pu shed through, reaching the very peak of his powers. As a true master, Brahms blends classical form and Romantic expression into a pure symphonic experience that hits both intellectually and emotionally. Or, as one critic put it: “It is like a dark well; the longer we gaze into it, the brighter the stars shine back.”