In Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, concertmaster Julia Becker plays the solo part. She tells us about her commitment and how she deals with stage fright.
"When I heard that the solo part in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 was coming to me, I was very happy. I have so much fun playing in small ensembles. I am basically not nervous. It's easier for me to play a violin concerto as Julia Becker than to be a soloist from the orchestra. One then wants to do it especially well for everyone. But in the meantime I have acquired a way of dealing with stage fright. Once, 25 years ago, I had bow trembling from zero to now for the very first time. It was so unsettling that at first I thought I would have to give up the violin. I then studied meditation techniques, kinesiology and all sorts of other things, which helped.
The last time I was really nervous was when I played at my father's funeral two years ago. I didn't know how to get the bow on the strings. I demanded it of myself, for my father's sake and ultimately for my own, to say goodbye. My father was a violinist himself and taught and guided me with infinite patience. We played the 'Erbarme Dich' aria from the 'Matthäus Passion', my brother on the double bass, my sister on the organ, and my daughter, an amateur singer and in the middle of exams for her medical studies, sang. It touched me so much that I still get teary-eyed when I think back. It gives me strength for all future tricky performances, as we managed to do as a family."
Recorded by Melanie Kollbrunner
Translated with DeepL.com
