Hilary Hahn, award-winning classical violinist performs in recital with pianist Cory Smythe | Press Releases

8 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Tickets: $65, $55

Image: H Hahn Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts presents Hilary Hahn, the award-winning classical violinist, in recital with pianist Cory Smythe at 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, 2014. Support for this concert comes from Sheaffer and media sponsor, Hearst Newspapers. Tickets: $65, $55.

In the two decades since her professional debut, Hilary Hahn has brought virtuosity, expansive interpretations, and daring repertoire choices to diverse global audiences. The 2013-14 season marks the 30th anniversary of Ms. Hahn's first violin lesson, which she took shortly before her fourth birthday. Now recognized as one of the world's foremost violinists, Hilary Hahn continues to follow her passion for adventurous programming, delving into core repertoire, contemporary music, and less familiar classic compositions with equal commitment.

The violinist embarked on her recording career at age 16. Her body of work now includes more than a dozen albums on the Deutsche Grammophon and Sony labels, three DVDs, an Oscar-nominated movie soundtrack, an award-winning recording for children, and various compilations. Her recordings have received every critical prize in the international press and have met with equal popular success. All have debuted in the top ten of the Billboard classical chart. This season marks the release of Ms. Hahn's long-awaited album, "In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores," with pianist Cory Smythe. This recording is the culmination of a multi-year project to renew the encore genre. Hahn commissioned 26 composers from around the world to write short-form works. For the 27th encore, she held an open contest that drew more than 400 entries. The international premiere tours, from 2011 to 2013, were met with wide critical and audience acclaim.

Ms. Hahn's April 22 recital at the Quick Center includes two of the "Encores": Antón García Abril's "Three Sighs" and Richard Barrett's "Shade." The program also includes Arnold Schoenberg's "Phantasy for Violin and Piano," Op. 47; Franz Schubert's "Fantasia in C Major for Violin and Piano," D. 934 (Op. posth. 159); Georg Philipp Telemann's "Fantasia No. VI" in E Minor for Solo Violin, TWV 40:19; and a Sonata for Violin by W.A. Mozart, that will be announced from the stage.

A recording pairing the Schoenberg and Sibelius concerti spent 23 weeks on the Billboard classical chart and earned her a second Grammy: the 2009 Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra. Her first Grammy win came in 2003 for her Brahms and Stravinsky concerto album. In 2010, she released Jennifer Higdon's "Violin Concerto" along with the Tchaikovsky concerto. Higdon's piece, written for Hilary Hahn, went on to win the Pulitzer Prize.

Ms. Hahn's gregarious personality reaches out to students, new listeners, and anyone with an interest in music and the arts. She is an avid writer and interviewer, posting journal entries and articles on her website. Additionally, she produces her own YouTube channel. Elsewhere, her violin case comments on life as a traveling companion, on Twitter and Instagram at @violincase. She has appeared on the covers of most major classical music publications and has been featured in mainstream periodicals such as Vogue, Elle, Town & Country , and Marie Claire. In 2001, she was named "America's Best Young Classical Musician" by Time magazine. Ms. Hahn has participated in a number of non-classical musical productions, including appearing on tour with folk-rock singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.quickcenter.com .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit www.quickcenter.com .