Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade
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Free Music Notes for Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade
Free Music Review: Exceptionally mature interpretation for one so young
Hit: 5 Stars
Whenever the latest hot, new virtuoso assays a materpiece as complex and steeped in violinistic tradition as the Beethoven concerto, expectations are at once high and low. Naturally, technical mastery is expected, else why would a major orchestra and label risk their reputation to make yet another recording of one of the warhorses of the repertoire? But often, these young artists are thrust too soon into the limelight, and attempt the greatest works written for their instrument far before they are ready for such challenges.In Hilary Hahn we have another thing entirely -- in technical mastery, she leaves nothing to be desired, but what is truly surprising about this masterful young violinist is the maturity of her interpretation and the depth of her musicianship. From her pure, sweet tone and perfect serenity in the opening through her flawless navigation of the treacherous straits of the Kreisler cadenzas, her fearless attacks and subtle phrasing show a maturity of interpretation and a mastery of the emotional range of both her instrument and the work that belies her tender years.
If she's this good now, what WILL she bring to this work when she revisits it in twenty years? I, for one, can't wait to find out.
Free Music Review: A Great Beethoven Violin Concerto Performance
Hit: 5 Stars
After hearing this wonderful CD, I look forward to hearing more from Hilary Hahn, whose virtuosity is second to none. Her playing of Beethoven's Violin Concerto reminds me much of Arthur Grimaux's. Both coupled technical precision with a sweet violin tone. Frankly I doubt I have heard anyone as young as Ms. Hahn perform this difficult concerto with as much conviction or warmth. Her playing of Bernstein's Serenade is equally fine; it is an unexpected bonus to her exquisite playing of Beethoven's concerto. In both pieces, she demonstrates a strong rapport with David Zinman and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, who have been part of her "musical" family since the age of ten. Speaking of Zinman and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, theirs is another great performance of Beethoven's orchestral score, played with ample warmth and technical brilliance. Sony's sound engineers have produced a first rate recording with extremely well balanced sound. While this may not be the definitive performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto, this splendid CD is definitely among the best currently available.Free Music Review: Bring Ms. Hahn forward a little bit
Hit: 5 Stars
Testimonials to Ms. Hahn's proficiency with the violin are by now common. I can resent only the tepid ones. Though sometimes given to overstatement, I am not sure how to overstate the perfection of her technique or the lyricism of her "laser beam" delivery (credit Nicholas Cage for that metaphor). She has the (thus far) unerring ability to transform seemingly unremarkable compositions into transcendental experiences.
I have compared her recordings of various works to those of Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein (as here), Henryk Szeryng and others, and, summarily, she makes the entire lot of 20th century violinists (except Pearlman) sound like a pack of struggling school boys at war with their instruments. She is a phenomenon; she is without equal. She is the greatest violinist in living memory, and we are priveleged to live in her era.
There you go. I was scarcely able to overstate it. Purchase anything she produces without fear of regret. There is nothing better out there (except Pearlman's Mendelssohn concerto with Barenboim - the recording mix is better).
Free Music Review: Great Beethoven, but the Bernstein blew me away
Hit: 5 Stars
Beethoven's violin concerto is justly ranked as one of the greatest works of classical music. While this might not be the best ever version, it is certainly close.But Bernstein's Serenade is something else altogether. I had never heard it, so I didn't know what to expect, and I was blown away. It is based on Plato's Symposium, which is a discussion about the nature of love, and it does manage to capture something of the mood of love with all its drama, emotion and beauty (whether it captures the mood of Plato... I'm not so sure). This piece has become one of my favorite works of classical music. I have not heard any other performance, but with this disc near at hand I'm not sure I need to (and I'm one who likes to have several versions of my favorite classical works).
If you already have a recording of the Beethoven, your collection needs this disc for the Bernstein.
This is a nearly perfect recording. Some might complain that there is not enough reverb, but this allows details to be heard which I have never noticed on any other recording of the Beethoven.
Free Music Review: Hilary Hahn scored an "A"
Hit: 5 Stars
This album was released when Hilary Hahn was 19 years old. By the time the album was recorded, she hadn't yet graduated from her music school. Nevertheless, Hilary Hahn had already been noticed and acclaimed by critics for her beautiful performances on the debut CD, which accelerated her status from a music student to one of the most sought-after violinists. It would be very hard for one to judge Hilary Hahn's playing on this CD. A teacher would probably recommend this to his or her students, since Hilary has surpassed every single technical difficulty of the standard work. I have no doubt that when in school, Hilary Hahn was one of the best and most favorite students. However, I won't object to the conclusion someone has made that there's still a little something that makes the interpretation indefinitive. I'm just going to take the first prospect and say that this is a very good recording considering how she approached the piece and how much she carried it out. She had a very nice start-off and so far, she hasn't disappointed any of her fans.