Hilary Hahn's concerto recordings

[verismissimo]

I thought that Hilary Hahn's recording of the Schoenberg concerto was so very good, I've since listened to her in a range of other concertos.

My conclusion is that while she's good in the works of the 18th and 19th centuries (Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Spohr, Paganini, Brahms...), she's especially fine in the 20th century (Shostakovich, Barber, Stravinsky...).

Or is it just me?

[Barbirollians]

I tend to agree although I think her Beethoven is very fine and of course that is coupled with a superb account of Bernstein's serenade.

[Ariosto]

I don't know the Schoenberg concerto and have not heard her do it, but a friend told me that he thought her recording was the first that had ever made sense to him. (It was originally written for Heifetz who turned it down and said you needed 6 fingers to play it).

[verismissimo]

... the Schoenberg concerto... a friend told me that he thought her recording was the first that had ever made sense to him...

For me too, Ariosto.

[verismissimo]

For me too, Ariosto.

I think it's because she comes to it as music, not as some kind of super-difficult crossword puzzle.

[amateur51]

I think it's because she comes to it as music, not as some kind of super-difficult crossword puzzle.

[Ariosto]

I think it's because she comes to it as music, not as some kind of super-difficult crossword puzzle.

Mind you Heifetz tried - he had at least two seperate goes - possibly more, but maybe it was for later generations. (Hell's bells, no spelling misteaks).

[ahinton]

Hahn's recording was the first that really made sense of Schönberg's Concerto to my ears too; it's an outstanding performance - possibly the best that the work has ever received. After I'd first heard it, I did actually tell the Schönberg scholar Malcolm MacDonald that she makes it sound like a piece of music and I'm surprised that he didn't respond by throwing the full score of the Gurrelieder at me...

[Bryn]

Stravinsky was not best known for making complimentary remarks regarding Schoenberg's musical output but he held the violin concerto in the highest regard. So very different from his own contribution to that repertoire.

[verismissimo]

Her Stravinsky is outstanding IMO, but it's her Shostakovich 1 that knocked me sideways most recently.

[Ariosto]

Stravinsky was not best known for making complimentary remarks regarding Schoenberg's musical output but he held the violin concerto in the highest regard. So very different from his own contribution to that repertoire.

Am I to take it that you don't like the Stravinsky VC? Don't want to fall out, but I love that work!

[verismissimo]

Am I to take it that you don't like the Stravinsky VC? Don't want to fall out, but I love that work!

I could be quite wrong, Ariosto, but I took it that Bryn was saying that the Stravinsky is very different from the Schoenberg, which indeed it is. And wonderful, as you say!

[Bryn]

I could be quite wrong, Ariosto, but I took it that Bryn was saying that the Stravinsky is very different from the Schoenberg, which indeed it is. And wonderful, as you say!

Nail struck squarely on its head. For my 14th birthday I was given the choice of which LP I wanted. I chose Stravinsky's own recording of the Symphony in Three Movements, which just happened to be coupled with the Stern recording of the Violin Concerto. At the time I had never heard of the other IS , and, to get guffaws from the record shop owner, was told he was one of the greatest violinists alive. Yes, a wonderful work, but oh so different from the very ethos of the Schoenberg.

[richardfinegold]

Nail struck squarely on its head. For my 14th birthday I was given the choice of which LP I wanted. I chose Stravinsky's own recording of the Symphony in Three Movements, which just happened to be coupled with the Stern recording of the Violin Concerto. At the time I had never heard of the other IS , and, to get guffaws from the record shop owner, was told he was one of the greatest violinists alive. Yes, a wonderful work, but oh so different from the very ethos of the Schoenberg.

Senility check: I had an lp that paired the Stravisnky and Berg Concertos and was my introduction to both works. Ozawa and the Boston SO was the Orchestra, but I can't remember if the soloist was Perlman or Mutter (my lps were destroyed in a flood almost 30 years ago). At any rate when I want to hear the Stravinsky I listen to the aforementioned Hahn and I haven't heard the Berg for a while. Who would people recommend for the Berg?

[verismissimo]

Senility check: I had an lp that paired the Stravisnky and Berg Concertos and was my introduction to both works. Ozawa and the Boston SO was the Orchestra, but I can't remember if the soloist was Perlman or Mutter (my lps were destroyed in a flood almost 30 years ago). At any rate when I want to hear the Stravinsky I listen to the aforementioned Hahn and I haven't heard the Berg for a while. Who would people recommend for the Berg?

It would have been Perlman, Richard.
My favourites in the Berg are Suk and Stern - both recorded a longish time ago.
What would be more current recommendations?