Weithaas
Antje Weithaas is a renowned German violinist, widely recognized for her deep artistry, technical brilliance, and dynamic interpretations of both classical and contemporary works. Born in 1966 in Guben, Germany, Weithaas began her violin studies at a young age, and her talent quickly became apparent. She honed her craft under the guidance of renowned teachers such as Professor Werner Scholz at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin, where she cultivated the technical precision and expressive musicality that would become hallmarks of her playing.
Weithaas’s early career was marked by significant competition wins, including first prize at the 1987 Kreisler Competition in Graz, Austria, and the 1991 International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig. These victories helped launch her into the international spotlight, paving the way for a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator.
As a soloist, Weithaas has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Her ability to communicate profound emotional depth, combined with impeccable technical command, makes her a favorite with both audiences and conductors alike. She has worked with esteemed conductors such as Sir Neville Marriner, Vladimir Jurowski, and Sakari Oramo, among others.
One of the distinctive qualities of Weithaas’s career is her dedication to both the classical and contemporary violin repertoire. She is equally comfortable performing works by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as more modern compositions by Ligeti, Lutosławski, and Schnittke. This versatility speaks to her intellectual curiosity and her desire to continually expand her musical horizons. Notably, Weithaas has often collaborated with contemporary composers, premiering new works and contributing to the evolution of the violin’s role in modern music.
In addition to her solo work, chamber music has been a central focus of Weithaas’s career. She was a founding member of the Arcanto Quartet, alongside violist Tabea Zimmermann, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and violinist Daniel Sepec. The Arcanto Quartet, known for its warmth, precision, and deeply considered interpretations, quickly gained international acclaim before disbanding in 2016. Weithaas continues to be an active chamber musician, regularly performing at prestigious festivals such as the Rheingau Music Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and the Lucerne Festival.
A respected teacher, Antje Weithaas has been a professor of violin at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin since 2004. She is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of violinists, offering her students not only technical instruction but also insight into the emotional and intellectual demands of a musical career. Her teaching is characterized by an emphasis on individual expression, encouraging students to develop their own voices while remaining grounded in the traditions of the violin.
Weithaas’s discography includes a wide range of repertoire, from solo violin works to chamber music and orchestral recordings. Notable among these is her critically acclaimed recording of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, as well as a complete set of Bach’s solo violin sonatas and partitas.
In sum, Antje Weithaas’s career is defined by her versatility, technical mastery, and profound musicianship. Whether on the concert stage or in the classroom, she continues to inspire with her passion for music and her dedication to pushing the boundaries of violin performance.
