We use the time in our extraordinarily slow elevator with Stefan Markowski to ask our associate concertmaster of the second violins about the ups and downs of the Konzerthausorchester during eventful decades. He has been with the orchestra since 1981 and is playing his last concert this month. 

I started here straight after graduating in 1981 at the age of 22. Back then, of course, the orchestra was still called the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchrester. It was my absolute dream orchestra and I was very happy when I got the job. My teachers played here and I was particularly attracted by the very regular concert tours at the time: Always in spring and fall and usually to the West, which was normally out of reach.

Unfortunately not. I watched it in the TV room of a barracks because, as was usual in the GDR, I was drafted into the army for a year and a half. I thought what I saw was great, because it was also my first glimpse of the completely renovated Great Hall.  I only knew it from the beginning of the construction work, when we played the legendary construction site concert there. In a huge hall with smooth concrete walls, without a stage, without tiers, without anything. There's even an oil painting of it!

I would like to mention two points in particular: When the Schauspielhaus was renamed the Konzerthaus in 1994, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra was appointed and confirmed as the house orchestra at the same time. That was very important for us. Nevertheless, there were still 12 years ahead of us, during which we were almost always at the mercy of various interests and had existential uncertainties. That's why I thought it was particularly important and right that the BSO was renamed the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in 2006, because it created an inseparable link to the house. This really put an end to all the uncertainties, and we were able to concentrate fully on playing good concerts.

Absolutely. Despite all the ups and downs, which of course I also experienced, I was able to play wonderful concerts, some of which remain unforgettable for me. And I've met a lot of wonderful people here. (Smiles) I would want to do it again - if I could.

Stefan Markowski will play his last concert in our orchestra at the end of the month under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach.