Listened to Hilary Hahn play Paganini last night

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Got a couple of Hilary Hahn SACDs for Christmas. Last night my wife and I listened to her playing concertos by Paganini and Spohr.
The second movement has what to my ears is unique in the recorded history of violin: When Ms. Hahn goes into 10th and 12th position not only she is in tune (precedented, but rare) but she has TONE. I simply did not know it was possible to play a string with an effective length of a couple of inches and have it sound like anything but a controlled screech.
Her pyrotechnics in the third movement are incredibly refined and articulate, as well.
Ms. Hahn, who is all of 26, is all about finesse, musical vision, and execution of that vision. She is not about power.
She has the finest right hand in the business, and to my ears, the finest right hand that has ever been recorded. I'll take the power of finesse over the excitement of power any day.

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Topic - Listened to Hilary Hahn play Paganini last night - lipmanl 06:32:35 12/27/06 (3)

Yup. - markrohr 04:01:18 12/28/06 (0)

Absolute agreement. - Poindexter 09:08:45 12/27/06 (1)

"unbelievable disappearing technique" - markrohr 04:03:48 12/28/06 (0)

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