Hilary Hahn Concert at Wheaton College
American Violinist Plays Brahms,Bartók, Ysaÿe and Ives
Mar 2, 2009 Sarah Canice Funke
It's not every day that first tier violinists offer free concerts at local institutions, so when Hilary Hahn came to the Wheaton College campus in Norton, Massachusetts, the old chapel was packed with droves of college students and members of the community.
Brahms' Hungarian Dances, Ives' Sonatas for Violin and Piano, Ysaÿe's Sonatas for Solo Violin
And their anticipation was justified. From blazing technical fireworks to sobbing lyrical passages, the concert delivered just what a good violin performance should. A brilliant actor, Hahn could run through a gamut of moods faster than a Hollywood screen test. This skill for shifting mood colors was especially evident in Brahms' Hungarian Dances (No. 10-12, No. 19, No. 5, No. 20-21) as each short dance took on a separate character.
While Brahms (and also Bartók) lent moody color to the program, it was Charles Ives who brought the fun and games. Three of his sonatas for violin and piano appeared on the program: No. 4, S. 63 ("Children's Day at the Camp Meeting"); No. 2, S. 61; and No. 1, S. 60. Ives' propensity to blur the sacred with the profane, as well as the mundane of every day life with a transcendental introspection was documented by snatches of hymns and popular tunes and musical portraits of barn dances, revivals and wandering anxiety.
Joining Hahn on the program was Valentina Lisitsa. The Ukrainian pianist executed some fiery scale passages, but during the quiet sections lapsed into a more flat fingered technique that occasionally lost some tone.
And Hahn could shine with or without accompaniment. Both halves of the program begin with a piece for solo violin by Ysaÿe. Stretching each note into the next, Hahn created a full-bodied sound that had no need of support from the piano.
Hilary Hahn: Down to Earth Performer and Collector of Fan Art
At 29 years of age, the young violinist from Baltimore, MD is quickly becoming a sought after headliner, with a Grammy, Billboard Top 10 recordings and an ever-growing resume of awards, profiles and interviews with major media channels.
And yet somehow the fame seems to bypass Hahn's head, leaving a performer who greets a standing ovation with shy smiles. An avid blogger who showcases her fans as much as herself (see the gallery of fan art on her website), Hahn stays as approachable as possible.
Her program invited the audience to meet Hahn after the concert and get autographs on programs or CDs. Though ill health prevented her from following through on that promise, it was the thought that counts.
Sources
Program Notes from the concert.
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