Hilary Hahn plays Bach and Piazzolla

In the beautiful surroundings of the Saanen Village Church in Switzerland, Hilary Hahn and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, led by Omer Meir Wellber, perform two of Bach’s greatest Violin concertos: BWV 1041 in A Minor, and BWV 1042 in E Major!

Hilary Hahn was a child prodigy, studying with Jascha Brodsky from the age of 4, who quickly became recognized as one of the great interpreters of Bach’s music. At age 17, she released her first album of Bach’s violin works, and later said that she would “complete” the full catalogue of the composer’s concertos for violin in another 17 years’ time. In 2018, Hilary Hahn released her album Hilary Hahn Plays Bach: Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 & 2 Partita No.1. Using Bach as a reference point for almost every work that she plays, she describes the composer as “the touchstone that keeps my playing honest… one can’t fake things in Bach.” (Hilary Hahn for Saint Paul Sunday).

Rarely performed in recital, the majestic Violin Concertos in A Minor, and E Major are the crown jewels of this exceptional concert. Only a select group of Bach’s concert works for violin remain part of the common repertoire, however, the rich use of harmony and counterpoint, and their expressivity and complexity helped these works gain universal acclaim. Hahn’s playing is outstanding, seeming to make her violin sing alongside the musicians of the orchestra during their playing of Oblivion by the Argentine composer, Astor Piazzolla. A deafening applause accompanies the violinist off stage, allowing the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen to shine during the dramatic Symphony No.4 in C Minor by Schubert. Bringing the evening to a close, the conductor Omer Meir Wellber swaps his baton for his accordion and performed Piazzolla's awe inspiring Libertango, leaving the public in complete admiration.