It's been about five years since I've heard violinist Hilary Hahn live, so when a friend offered what turned out to be a prime seat for her recital at Town Hall's Free for All, I couldn't say no. Working with the terrific pianist Valentina Lisitsa, Hahn cruised effortlessly through three of Charles Ives's Sonatas for Violin and Piano (4, 2 and 1, played in that order), a parcel of Brahms's Hungarian Dances, plus Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances, all done with disarming, easygoing virtuosity.
But while I came for Ives, I was seduced by Ysaÿe: two sonatas for solo violin (Op. 27, nos. 4 and 6), and Rêve d'enfant, for violin and piano. And who could have guessed that the encore, Paganini's Cantabile, would be so stirring? In Hahn's hands, works that can lean toward shallow showmanship somehow spoke more eloquently. As an artist she has grown quickly, but her technical proficiency comes bundled with feeling and wisdom beyond her 29 years—an amazing afternoon.
[Illustration: Hilary Hahn by Emma, age 8, Romerberg, Germany, from www.hilaryhahn.com]
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