Hilary Hahn, Jeffrey Kahane, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra – Bach Concertos (2LP)
Johann Sebastian Bach - Concertos
Violin – Hilary Hahn, Margaret Batjer
Oboe - Allan Vogel
Orchestra – Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Conductor -Jeffrey Kahane
2 LP, Gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas in Germany
Label : Deutsche Grammophon
Original Label : Deutsche Grammophon
Recorded at Zipper Hall at The Colburn School of Performing Arts, Los Angeles
Recorded by Classic Sound, New York
Engineered by Marc Stedman
Produced by Thomas Frost
Executive Producer – Martin T:son Engstroem
Mastered by Theo Krieger at SST GmbH
Liner Notes by James Keller, Hilary Hahn
Photography by Felix Broede, Kásskara
Originally released in 2003
Reissued in July 2023
Tracks:
Side A: Concerto For Violin, Strings And Continuo In E Major, BWV 1042
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Allegro Assai
Side B: Concerto For 2 Violins, Strings And Continuo In D Minor, BWV 1043 Violin
- Vivace
- Largo Ma Non Tanto
- Allegro
Side C: Concerto For Violin, Strings And Continuo In A Minor, BWV 1041
- Allegro Moderato
- Andante
- Allegro Assai
Side D: Concerto For Oboe, Violin, Strings And Continuo In C Minor, BWV 1060 Oboe
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Allegro
Reviews :
"Hilary Hahn’s first recording for DG confirms her growing reputation as one of the finest violinists of our time, irrespective of age. This is Bach playing of truly extraordinary quality, from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra as much as the soloist(s). Conductor Jeffrey Kahane and Hahn together bring an absolutely toe-tapping abandon to the outer movements of the E major concerto, and the central Adagio emerges as a major slow movement, pure poetry with the continuo harpsichord thankfully not too prominent but perfectly placed to add a touch of definition to the bass lines.
Perhaps what makes this collection so remarkable from the solo point of view is the fact that Hahn doesn’t take the spotlight, front and center, but gives the music the chamber-like interplay and “concerto grosso” feel that produces a more “authentic” impression than many performances using period instruments. It goes without saying that her own contribution is extremely well executed, perfect in intonation, and she controls her vibrato in the slow movements in a way that never makes the music sound mushy or overly sentimental–but she remains very much “first among equals”. In the double concerto, she and Margaret Batjer match their tones with uncanny accuracy, and Hahn’s interplay with oboist Allan Vogel in the C minor double concerto is a model of what a gracious musical dialog should be.
In short, you won’t find these works better played by anyone, or given more pleasingly listenable interpretations. My only quibble concerns DG’s sonics, which turn a touch hard in the violin’s upper register and only reluctantly permit a true piano in quieter passages, though given the extrovert nature of the playing there aren’t all that many of those. Otherwise, the recording is excellently balanced and clear, and this is in all respects an extremely auspicious debut recording for Hahn on her new label." Classics Today Review by David Hurwitz
Ratings :
AllMusic : 3 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.64 / 5 ; Classics Today : Artistic Quality :10 / 10, Sound Quality: 9 / 10