Hilary Hahn

continued

For all her astounding skill, Hahn's recording of the Ciaccona is still cold and severe, a demonstration of her technique but not much else. And Hahn's subsequent recordings have gotten so hard as to be almost fierce. For all her practical perfection, Hahn has yet to sound the depths of the music she records.

Along with the Bach, Hahn will be performing two sonatas by Mozart and one by Ysaye. The Mozarts are light and delightful, and the Ysaye supervirtuosic. While it will be interesting to hear what Hahn does with delightful and supervirtuosic pieces, the sublime Ciaccona is what everyone will be there to hear Hahn play.   

[Originally published in February, 2004.]