Swinging Cats and Hep Girls - soundtrack from episode 209

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Hilary Hahn Continues to tour Jennifer Higdon's new Violin Concerto

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Since Hilary Hahn premiered Jennifer Higdon 's Violin Concerto in February, she has performed the new work in a variety of different settings. At the end of May she will appear with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with Vasily Petrenko as conductor, her second performance of Higdon's Concerto in Europe. Hilary then returns to Baltimore to work with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony for a spate of concerts in the Maryland area. After her concerts in Baltimore Hilary rejoins with Valentina Lisitsa on piano for a tour of South America. May 28 Liverpool, UK - Philharmonic Hall Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Vasily Petrenko, conductor Higdon: Violin Concerto June 4 Baltimore, MD - Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop, conductor Higdon: Violin Concerto June 5 Baltimore, MD - Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop, conductor Higdon: Violin Concerto June 6 North Bethesda, MD - Strathmor...
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Comparing Violinists

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I'm not sure such a comparison by a composer is a wise decision (because performers are the people who ultimately perform our music and comparing performers means one tends to be favored and so the other may feel slighted and 'less inclined' to perform comparing composer's works). But that said, this blog is all about discussing what comes to mind - and reviewing the various violin music I've heard recently it only seems natural a comparison of the performers styles would happen. So, here I go.... Hilary Hahn has several glowing comments from me about her playing. I've listened to most of what she has recorded and find her style fresh and energetic. She likes to attack pieces and plays some of the fast sections faster than her contemporaries. This is not done at the sake of clarity, because during the Szymanowski the clarity of notes is always present, and yet the notes seems to fly at inhuman speed. Although, I think her rendition of Korngold's Violin Co...
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