Classical Music Pick
NOVEMBER 18, 2006 Listen to this Story
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Steve Smith, the classical music editor of Time Out New York, brings some new music from acclaimed violinists Nicolo Paganini and Louis Spohr. Modern-day virtuoso Hilary Hahn has performed two of their compositions on a new album. We check it out.
Notes from Steve Smith
Hilary Hahn takes on two works from the grand tradition of the traveling violin virtuoso. The Italian composer Nicolo Paganini was certainly the best known of the 19th century virtuosos; his talent was so remarkable that it was assumed he'd made some diabolical pact for his "powers." He was also a secretive man whose music wasn't published until after his death, so that no one could easily steal his tricks.
Louis Spohr was a Frenchman of the previous generation; he wrote his "Concerto No. 8" for a visit to opera-mad Italy, so he cast it in the form of a vocal scene, with dramatic introductions and a starry arrival for the soloist.
The Paganini piece still gets played reasonably often, though it hasn't been recorded so much lately; the Spohr has practically disappeared. Hahn is usually considered a fairly cerebral player, so it's fun to hear her cut loose on these garish showpieces.
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