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| Bach Concertos | 
 enlarge | Creators: Johann Sebastian Bach, Jeffrey Kahane, Allan Vogel, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Hilary Hahn, Margaret Batjer
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $9.49
You Save: $7.49 (44%)
Buy New/Used from $5.92
Avg. Customer Rating:  (54 reviews)
Sales Rank: 22730
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 000098602
UPC: 028947419921
EAN: 0028947419921
ASIN: B000099156
Release Date: September 9, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Exhilarating October 14, 2007
Having lived with the magisterial Grumiaux recording of these works for so long, I been thinking of getting a differing version with up-to-date sound for some time now. This version from Hillary Hahn fits the bill perfectly. Some of the tempos are fast, but one quickly gets use to them and what is left is the feeling of exhilaration. There is no feeling that she, or the LA Chamber Ensemble is rushing. The slow movements are expressively preformed without becoming syrupy,as often is the case. Hillary Hahn's tone is flexible and radiant throughout. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is a marvel of precision and alertness, matching the soloist enthusiasm every second of the way. The sound quality is the best I have heard from a Deutsche Grammophon recording; the bass lines are especially clean and clear. Needless to say, I love this CD. I hope that Hillary Hahn has plans to do the Bach Sonatas for Violin & Keyboard in the near future.
 Hillary Hahn's Bach July 24, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
HH writes in her insightful notes that the concerti were written for small forces and they, like the Brandenburgs or Orchestral Suites, are chamber music. This is the way she and the ASMF play them. The result is total clarity of musical line and HH playing the solo parts not louder or in front of the chamber orchestra but within it, as you hear a concertmaster play a solo. I know of no other recording that integrates the soloist into the ensemble as well as this one.
HH knows and loves Bach. She has been playing his music since she was a child and often plays movements from his solo violin sonatas and partitas as encores. She plays Bach with total commitment and a deep love. Finally, she writes that she chooses tempi that are lively and dance-like. She generates excitement in the outer movements and in the slow movements, on the other hand, conveys the deepest emotion. She brings out the darkness and inner struggle that Bach expresses in these movements. The final movements are appropriately played wonderfully fast so to contrast and overcome the darkness: they are all light and joy.
The tempi she chooses are not too fast - they are the norm of the modern performer. Compare her performances to Manze or Kuikjien and La Petite Band. True she doesn't use 'authentic' instruments or play in a self-consciously HIP fashion - but, she achieves the aims of the HIP movement by other means.
Music lovers will want several or many recordings of these works - and HH's deserves a place in anybody's collection.
Angelic. April 30, 2007
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
When Hilary picks up her bow, the Angels fall silent and listen.
I don't know a whole lot about music, but I do know pure beauty when I hear it, and I own 5 of this delightful young ladies CDs, and this is simply the most beautifal. If you have any taste for classical music, and my collection runs from Guns an Rose to Beethoven, you will love this album. :) Brightest Blessings Hilary, BB.
 Will You Hurry Up Already? April 26, 2007
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Like other reviewers, I agree this is way to fast. It's as if, she is just trying to get through these pieces as fast as she can. Like it's like hurry up this is boring, as if she would rather be doing something else. I know that's not what she intended, but to my ears that's what it sounds like. This is the 4th Hilary Hahn CD, that I have purchased. I've liked most of her CD's, but as a result of this recording am beginning to doubt her interpretation of many of these pieces. Like many other reviewers I am not an expert by any means, but I am thinking that being as young as she is affects her interpretation of the music. Maybe I will change my mind later, and maybe I am just used to hearing Bach a certain way who knows? To sum up my feelings, I will say she is an amazing violinist with huge potential, but like any fine wine needs time to mature. Time will tell for me, and maybe for her as well, but for now 3 stars is my verdict.
Addicted January 24, 2007
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
I don't really know a whole lot about classical music but I came across Miss Hahn's music when I was searching for something to study by. Personally, I find her music addictive and I never get sick of listening to her. I have since experimented with the notion of why I like her so much by comparing her music with other interpretations of the same pieces from Bach and have really come to appreciate her style. Clean, crisp and fresh. A really, really, wonderful violinist!
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