Hilary Hahn and Bach at SFO tonight

Hilary Hahn is consistently herself, though matured, having mothered a child last year, and having returned to Bach, to whom she was exposed continuously as a student.  Discovered she studied at Curtis School of Music in Philadelphia, where she was admitted at age 10, --and  where I met incredible musicians in formation and in mastery, including Yo Yo Ma.  She played elegantly, with poise and full confidence in her instrument and in herself as an instrument of musicality.   She is on tour of this recital of the Bach Sonata and two partitias, the last being incredibly difficult(the program notes described it as the "Everest" ).

It started well, as a couple in line with drinks with me, -- resulted in the husband ordering a glass of champagne for me; I thought that only happened in Europe.  I commented to the wife, that she had a very nice husband, and she said, affirmatively, yes, he is a very nice husband; an elegant SF couple and a man with saving grace. 

Returning to Hilary Hahn, she sang in a wide billowing black skirt of large white flowers, with a black bodice and a red flower pinned on her chest.  She played without any unnecessary gestures calling attention to herself, and she spoke softly when she played as an encore, an andante by Bach about which she reflected that it was more "meditative".
The orchestra hall was sold out, to the very tip of the highest balcony, and stage viewing...and gave three rousing rounds of applause, which Hilary Hahn gracefully accepted.  Another observation is that the Chinese turned out in droves. 

So much competes for our attention in America, the land of abundance. This concert was a good decision.  I am now listening to the CD she produced of the three pieces she played.  I do not want to go to sleep.  I want to stay awake and celebrate.  Partitas One B Minor  and Two D Minor , and Sonata No. 1. G Minor

A three time Grammy winner, HH is performing this solo concert of Bach in Vienna, Paris, New York(last week), Washington, DC, Toronto, Tokyo, Seoul, Berlin, London and Munich.   She is artist in residence with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, with whom she will perform Sibelius in Austria, German, France and Spain.

 



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