Hilary Hahn plays Bach: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Partita No. 1
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Violist Hilary Hahn is a three-time Grammy Award-winner. Hahn is celebrated for her ability to convey a wide range of musical styles with musicality and her beautiful warm passionate tone. Hahn has released eighteen albums on the Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, and Sony labels, in addition to three DVDs, an Oscar-nominated movie soundtrack, an award-winning recording for children, and various compilations. Hahn’s expansive interpretations of a varied repertoire is impressive, but a common theme spanning her entire career has been J.S. Bach. Bach has been a part of Hahn’s life from the beginning of her musical studies, including with her first teacher, Klara Berkovich. At ten she was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia to study with Jascha Brodsky, a former pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe and Efrem Zimbalist, who dedicated part of nearly every lesson to solo Bach. The long personal relationship Hahn has developed and nurtured over the years with J.S. Bach’s music is now again captured on recording with her releasing of, Hilary Hahn plays Bach: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Partita No. 1. The sixteen tracks is Hahn performing J.S. Bach with a sound that is distinguished, full-bodied and gleaming lyricism. Her virtuosity brings out each passage with clarity, even the most technically challenging passages are conveyed with detailed articulation and lyricism. That’s the short of it!
Positives:
Hahn can transcend the physical demands of J.S. Bach and bring out the beauty and lyricism of each composition. For example, Hahn’s passion and lyricism brings the Presto of Sonata No. 1 (BWV 1001) to life in a manner that is flawless. Her tone is robust, her attack and projection are absolutely clean; simply beautiful.
Bottom Line:
Hilary Hahn plays Bach: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Partita No. 1 is a gorgeous performance of J.S Bach pinnacle solo violin writing. With this album, which includes the first partita and first and second sonatas, Hahn completes her recording of the Bach sonatas and partitas for solo violin. Two decades have passed since Hahn’s first Bach recording at age 17. Hilary Hahn plays Bach: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2; Partita No. 1 was certainly worth the wait and again Hahn’s interpretation of the music is elegantly masterful. Hahn does not over ornament the music, she focuses on conveying a sound that elegantly weaves J.S. Bach’s rich layers, counterpoint and tonalities in a natural unforced manner. Hahn’s pitch is perfect throughout and her tone is bursting with passion, this recording is simply sublime.