Hahn Violin Concerto

[Alan Howe]

...hard to find online, but the CD's available direct from Maguelone:
https://www.maguelone.fr/en/home/129-hahn-sonate-et-concerto-pour-violon-3770003584100.html
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8174088--hahn-violin-concerto-violin-sonata (download only)

Is there a more beautiful 20th-century violin concerto than this? OK, there's the Barber, Walton and, of course, the Korngold. And probably many others. But oh, the Hahn! What a gorgeous piece it is - especially in this live recording featuring violinist Denis Clavier with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Lorraine (now called the 'Orchestre national de Metz' in eastern France) conducted by Fernand Quattrocchi.

This release has taught me two things: first, that I have missed out on a fabulous work (no doubt others here already know it!); and secondly, that I must never underestimate the ability of less well-known performers to scale the heights in particular recordings - because this is a classic instance of a release which I would probably have passed over thinking it might be too 'provincial' to bother about. Not every recording has to feature a world-renowned soloist and conductor!

Anyway, enough of my failings. I heartily recommend this CD, coupled with a Romance, Nocturne and Sonata for Violin and Piano by the same composer.

[FBerwald]

Alan, I have been trying to say the same thing since I first heard it. This positively deserves to be a standard repertoire piece. Why it's still neglected is beyond me. 

[Alan Howe]

No idea. Something to do with Hahn's image as a 'lightweight', perhaps - as a composer of mere art songs? Or just plain ignorance (I hold my hands up here).