First, trace important elements of Brahms’s development, including his fanatical perfectionism, the damaging circumstances of his early musical life, and his bond with the violinist Joseph Joachim, who played a critical role in the creation of the Violin Concerto. Among the concerto’s riches, hear Brahms’s brilliant structuring of the opening movement, giving the violin the chance to gloriously elaborate the main themes. Savor the aria-like lyricism of the adagio and the hot-blooded gypsy heart of the finale.