In the eyes of his contemporaries, Johannes Brahms's 1878 Violin Concerto in D major was so different from everything that had come before that, after the premiere, a critic stated that it wasn't a concerto, but a "symphony with violin obligato". Legendary American violinist Gil Shaham introduces viewers to its melodies and motifs and seeks to disprove the famous criticism. Wolfgang Sandberger, the director of the German Brahms Institute in Lübeck, analyzes the work and describes its genesis. Claudio Abbado conducts the Berlin Philharmonic at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, on May 1, 2002.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on October 10, 2014. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Violin Concerto in D Introduction (1:41) -- Inspired by Nature (1:46) -- Mixed Reviews (2:25) -- Allegro non Troppo Movement (1:45) -- Soloist's Role (2:22) -- Joachim Cadenza (2:10) -- Brahms' Biography (1:43) -- Romantic Style Tension (1:04) -- Adagio Movement (2:47) -- Beethoven Inspiration (3:41) -- Allegro Giocoso Movement (1:51) -- Stretta (1:03) -- Musical Journey (1:00) -- Credits: Discovering Masterpieces of Classical Music: Brahms (Documentary) (0:44).