Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Composer), David Zinman (Conductor), Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Hilary Hahn (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Hilary Hahn
• Orchestra: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: David Zinman
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein
• Audio CD (January 26, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000GV4L
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,759 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: 1. Allegro, ma non troppo

2. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: 2. Larghetto

3. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: 3. Rondo. Allegro

4. Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings; also for violin & piano: 1. (Lento - Allegro)

5. Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings; also for violin & piano: 2. (Allegretto)

6. Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings; also for violin & piano: 3. (Presto)

7. Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings; also for violin & piano: 4. (Adagio)

8. Serenade (after Plato: Symposium), for violin, harp, percussion & strings; also for violin & piano: 5. (Molto tenuto - Allegro molto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sets the current-day standard of performance, July 17, 2003

By 

Carl C. Nelson (Thompson Station, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade (Audio CD)

Hilary Hahn's recording of Beethoven's great Violin Concerto sets the standard for contemporary performances of this piece. Her technique alone would make her a great musician. What is even more impressive is that she applies her technique in a thoughtful, musical manner. A recording musician today should be able to give an adequate technical performance of any given piece--what separates Hahn from the rest is that the music comes first, with her technique as its outlet, rather than the music being a showcase for talent.

The Beethoven Violin Concerto is indisputably one of the top violin (or any instrument, for that matter) concertos ever written. It is a remarkable piece in that it is not as note-heavy as, say, Tchaikovsky's, but is more complex. The second movement is especially wonderful, beginning with a longer-than-typical theme by the soloist that is at its heart simple, yet elegant. The soloist then guides the orchestra in exploring the theme, leading it down one path, then following another, agreeing here, contrasting there. It's a doctoral thesis in the art of the concerto as a conversation between soloist as master of his or her craft and orchestra as equal partners.

The thing that Beethoven did so well that none will ever be his equal at it is to take a relatively simple theme--I, a non-musician, can play the main themes from two of the greatest symphonies ever composed, the Fifth and the Ninth, on my toddler's five-note toy piano!--and make it great through repetition and variation of melody and harmony. Beethoven could write a piece that used the same theme a hundred times and you'd still feel like it was fresh at the conclusion. So it is with the third movement of this concerto.

Hahn and Zinman excel in this recording because they capture the essence of this music--simple themes musically done in a manner where both soloist and orchestra contribute. One certainly wouldn't have Zinman and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on the tip of one's tongue when asked about the greatest orchestras today--thoroughly competent, to be sure, but not the best of the best. What Zinman does so well in this recording is to not exaggerate the piece. The dynamics and tempos of the piece are kept in a moderate range--no fireworks where a candle is called for. And perhaps as a great athlete improves the abilities of teammates, so Hahn lends her technique, restraint, and intelligence to the orchestra.

Let's face it, no one's buying this for the Bernstein. It's a good performance of a decent piece, but it's not why you'll reach for this CD over and over. It's something of an ironic pairing; if ever there was a conductor who bludgeons listeners with Beethoven (outside of an excellent recording of the Third with the Vienna Philharmonic) more than Bernstein I don't know who it is.

Wrapping up: this CD has joined the Menuhin/Furtwangler recording as my favorite performance of this supreme Violin Concerto.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb! Best recording of Beethoven's Violin Concerto!, June 27, 2002

By 

Dupont - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade (Audio CD)

Protege Hilary Hahn has done an amazing job on this piece.
The booklet included contains interesting information on the composers as well as Hilary herself.
Hilary's tone is very sweet, but she still has an amazing amount of power. Each note is very pronouced and clear, as well as artistic. I own the score to this piece, and Hilary doesn't miss one single note, either.
If you combine her performance with the Beethoven concerto, the effect is marvelous. The piece has every emotion imaginable, and the transitions, written in the piece as well as played by Hilary are very smooth and subtle.
The Leonard Bernstein piece is very different from the Beethoven concerto. Each movement settles on one emotion, so there are no transitions, and each movement seems like a seperate piece. It will be hard to listen to this piece after the Beetrhoven concerto, and I usually turn my stereo off after the finale of the Beethoven concerto. still, the Berstein piece is really great. I recommend that you listen to the pieces seperately.
I recommend this CD over recordings made by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Midori, Josh(ua) Bell, and Sarah chang. You will not regret buying this CD. It is a truly PERFECT addition to any music library.
-Ian Snyder

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of Hahn's recordings, July 31, 2002

By 

"requiemguardian" (West Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade (Audio CD)

Having listened to all of Hahn's recordings, this coupling is the best. Hahn's sound is so intensely controlled and her intonation is much better than I expected. She plays the First movement of the Beethoven with dexterity and octaves runs as if they do not bother her at all. The straightforward confidence style of playing in the second was a welcoming surprise. Hahn's vibrato has developed finely since her Barber/Meyer recording. It is now more...suave than before. And the lucidity of the third is much better than the Bell version.
The Bernstein Serenade speaks for itself...It may be even better than the premier artist, Isaac Stern. But I cannot comment against my favorite artist