Hilary Hahn, violin, in program of VON WEBER, SHOSTAKOVICH, BACH & DVORAK, with Berlin Philharmonic (2011)
Performers: Hilary Hahn, violin/ Berlin Philharmonic Orch./ Mariss Jansons
Program: CARL MARIA VON WEBER: Oberon, J. 306: Overture; DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77; JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001 (Presto); ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88, B. 163; Slavonic Dances, Series 2, Op. 72, B. 147: No. 7 in C Major
Audio: PCM Stereo/ Dolby Digital 5.1/ DTS 5.1
Studio: EuroArts 2050448 (1/29/11) [Distr. by Naxos]
No region code
Length: 99 mins
Rating: ****
This is a DVD release from 2011, but it’s a worthwhile one, with a vivacious performance by violinist Hilary Hahn and a sparkling recording of varied works including Dvořák, Shostakovich, Bach and Carl Maria von Weber. The concert was recorded on Tokyo in November of 2000, so this is not in any way a recent release. Still, it’s a compelling one. Hahn does not appear in the Dvorak or the von Weber Oberon Overture.
For me the highlight of the disc is the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor. The playing of this piece is flawless, and Ms. Hahn was only 20 at the time. It’s a dark work, written in 1947-48. The composer had to denounce the composition under Soviet cultural restrictions, but it was finally performed in Leningrad in 1955. It’s a difficult work for violin, but Ms. Hahn appears comfortable with it and it’s a triumphal performance.
Ms. Hahn also appears with the Berliners sitting passively as she plays Bach’s Sonata no. 1 for Solo Violin. It’s another breathtaking performance, and while my knowledge of other recordings is not complete, it’s the best I’ve heard.She plays only the presto.
The disc fills out with two works by Dvořák, the Symphony No. 8 and the Slavonic Dances. Both are well represented on audio discs. I thought the performance was more than acceptable, but I’ve heard both works played with a bit more verve.
The video is just plan old NTSC, and the audio offers Dolby 5.1, DTS 5.1 and PCM stereo. I’m at a bit of a loss to understand why this 15-year-old performance wasn’t released until 2011. Perhaps it was to offer the superb playing of Ms. Hahn at a younger age. It’s old enough that a Blu-ray likely wasn’t an option, since so little was being recorded in high definition. The audio is quite good, but again, not up to the more modern standards of high-bit-rate recordings. The orchestral image is very stable, with surrounds being used for ambience and applause. Ms. Hahn is anchored stage center left for her solos.
This is a fine program, but Ms. Hahn is only on half of it, and she is the main reason to get this disc. The Oberon and Dvořák are well played, but not remarkable. The Berlin Philharmonic, under the baton of Mariss Jansons, is musical and precise. Watching the disc I longed for Blu-ray quality video, and I’m so used to it that NTSC is starting to look pretty aged. The audio, as mentioned, is not of demonstration quality, but it is certainly excellent in its own right.
—Mel Martin
