The extremely self-critical Brahms spent 14 years working on his Symphony No. 1 from 1876, always looking back at his overpowering predecessor Beethoven. It was absolutely worth it - from the dramatic appearance of the timpani as the organ point at the beginning to the typical Brahms garlands in the woodwinds and the jubilant “hymn” in the strings and horns in the Allegro of the last movement!

It was under life-threatening political pressure that Shostakovich was forced to hide his first violin concerto in a drawer for years. It was only after Stalin's death that the dedicatee David Oistrakh brought it to fruition. As a soloist with the Konzerthausorchester under the direction of Joana Mallwitz, the exceptional violinist Josef Špaček performs this work, who by no means had to wait years for great success: the multiple competition winner was already the youngest concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, but has now been devoting himself solely to his solo career for five years.