When Hilary Hahn Plays Bach came out on Sony in 1997, critics were astounded that a performer would choose solo Bach for her debut album; they were further confounded by her elegant approach to this music's technical and interpretive challenges at such a young age. "Not a week has passed since then without an audience member asking me when I'll record the rest of the set," Hahn says, having released her first album when she was 17 to great critical and popular success. Now 38, she completes her recording of the Bach sonatas and partitas for solo violin on her new Decca album which includes performances of the first partita and first and second sonatas.

Just as Hahn knew that her first album should be Bach, despite skepticism from more experienced people in the music industry, she also knew that now was the moment to record the rest of the set. She explains, "What you hear in this completion of my solo Bach set is therefore the best recording that I feel I can offer at this point in my life. I love these pieces. Indulging in the freedom of the moment is the only way to attain an honest performance, and the moments and grand gestures that Bach gifted violinists through these works are magically infinite."

She adds, "I used to envision this recording as my link to a long chain of traditions. But now that this album is finished, I see that the best way to honor the continuum that Bach's solo violin works embody is to simply appreciate these pieces when they are needed – whatever that means to you. Whether you experience the sonatas and partitas as a violinist or a listener, alone or in community with others, I hope that they will bring the depth, emotion, humor, and reverie to your life that they do to mine."

Musicians:
J.S. Bach, composer
Hilary Hahn, violin