Two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn embarks on a new project “In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores”, for which she has commissioned no fewer than 26 international composers to write new encores for violin and piano.
The album is a roll-call of contemporary composers including Nico Muhly, Jennifer Higdon, James Newton Howard, Max Richter, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Lera Auerbach, Elliott Sharp, Mason Bates, Valentin Silvestrov, Mark Anthony Turnage, David Lang, Du Yun, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh.
One of the composers, Gillian Whitehead, is based in New Zealand.
For the 27th encore she ran an innovative online competition through her website, which inspired an incredible 400 entries! Hilary went through every single one herself and chose the winner to be Hawaiian-based composer Jeff Myers for his encore, Angry Birds of Kauai. For every submission received to this blind contest, $2 were donated to the music programs of Dramatic Need.
The recording, with pianist Cory Smythe was made following two acclaimed world tours in which Hilary premiered all of the new works, live in concert. Hilary brings to each musical miniature her famous artistic conviction, longstanding passion for new music and, of course, her breathtaking virtuosity.
Review:
Unlike most albums of violin encores featuring the most popular showpieces
in the repertoire, In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores introduces original
works for violin and piano that have been specially commissioned by Hilary Hahn
in an effort to rejuvenate this specialized musical category. The pieces
recorded here are not easy to pigeonhole, either stylistically or by moods, and
while Hahn and pianist Cory Smythe bring considerable verve and presence to
each, they all have distinctive characteristics and sound profiles: some are
bright and virtuosic, and others rhythmic and dancelike, while still others are
serious and thoughtful. The roster of composers includes some familiar names,
such as David del Tredici, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Jennifer Higdon, Mark-Anthony
Turnage, Lera Auerbach, James Newton Howard, and Max Richter, along with
21 other composers from around the world, showing Hahn's openness to many
traditions and expressions outside standard European classics. Of course,
encores are usually presented at the end of recitals and given a certain pride
of place in that spot, so they tend to receive focused attention. In a setting
of nothing but encores, especially in a double-CD package, they tend to compete
for the listener's attention, and some naturally will require repeated
listening to create a stronger impression. Taken altogether, this is an
attractive collection of chamber music, and Hahn's project is an unqulified
success.
All Music Guide – Blair Sanderson