Product Details

• Actors: Hilary Hahn, Kent Nagano, Natalie Zhu, Berlin Deutsches Symphony Orchestra
• Directors: Benedict Mirow
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1), English (PCM Stereo)
• Subtitles: German, Spanish, French
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
• DVD Release Date: February 13, 2007
• Run Time: 58 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000KF0NNE
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,909 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Hilary Hahn: A Portrait" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 02/13/2007

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talent of the Century, February 19, 2007

By	John M. Thomas (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a great idea, to make a documentary of violinist Hilary Hahn traveling around the world and concertizing. Undoubtedly at the top of her profession, Hahn never fails to amaze with her unmistakably gorgeous tone, enviable precision, and brilliant musicality. This DVD "portrait" includes personal footage of Hahn backstage at the Philharmonie in Berlin, as well as a tour at the Curtis Institute, a recording session at Abbey Road Studios, and a trip to Hong Kong. In an age of music commercialism, Hahn is refreshingly real and self-deprecating. Included on this DVD are excerpts from the Korngold Concerto, Mozart Sonata for Piano and Violin in G major, The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, Chaconne from Partita in D minor by Bach, and the Paganini Concerto No. 1. On the menu there is additional concerto footage, which includes the Korngold Concerto and Mozart sonata in their entirety - thank goodness, because there's nothing more aggravating than replaying excerpts. If for nothing else, buy the DVD for these complete live recordings, because they are absolutely sublime. The outer movements of the Korngold sound a lot like film music, which the classical music lover may or may not like, but the second movement is incredibly beautiful and highly recommended. The Mozart sonata is also very well played, but this is nothing new as Hahn has already released a recording of this. This DVD is important because it contains video footage of Hahn performing - the only other DVD where you can find her playing is The Last Night of the Proms, in which she plays the Mozart Concerto No. 4 in D Major and Presto from Sonata No. 1 by Bach, but the sound quality is somewhat lacking and certainly doesn't do justice to Hahn.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for ALL Hilary Hahn Fans, June 12, 2007

By	Woodland Poet - See all my reviews

This DVD is what it says it is, a portrait. Hilary Hahn comes off as genuine and insightful throughout. She is also a talent of wit and humor as well, such as in her tour of Curtis Institute that had a real improvised quality about it and spontaneity. The concert footage is very good. For example, we get to see Hilary perform the entire Korngold concerto (a personal favorite of mine), live in concert. A definite treat is to get to see her play violin for those that don't get to see concerts very often. She gives us a view of what her years at Curtis were like, (sitting at the back of the violins in the school orchestra and pumpkin carving), views on the contemporary recording process, as well as what it is like to travel around the world at the top of her profession. Lots of interviews, lots of candid footage.

34 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilary Hahn - No One Better., February 19, 2007

By	Jonathan E. Rice "MusicBook&MovieFan" (Lexington, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have not even gotten to watch the entire DVD yet and already I am very impressed. Some the the insightful things Ms. Hahn says regarding her performances could (and should) be used for college, or even high school, speech classes. But the music is what makes the DVD. Any classical music fan, especially any fan of Hilary's, needs to buy this DVD.