Another review, another opinion

After reading Robert Battey's some what negative review of Hilary Hahn's recital I decided to see if there was a review of the recital in San Francisco.  I found a review written by Joshua Kosman that was published in the San Francisco Chronicle.  Mr. Kosman's review had a completely different tone.  First off he praised Ms. Hahn's programming choices calling them "imaginative."  He even claimed that this recital was the "highlight of the still young year."

Similar to Mr. Battey's review the Antheil and Ives Sonatas was a primary subject.  Unlike that review Mr. Kosman enjoyed these pieces.  He called the Antheil Sonata "a fascinating example of the anxiety of influence."  The first movement is indebted to Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat.  In other movements Antheil moves into his "own inventive world, one marked by percussive rhythms quite different from the Stravinsky."

Mr. Kosman complements Ms. Hahn's versatility.  He called the performance of the Beethoven "Spring" Sonata graceful, yet sinewy.  He goes on to comment how Ms. Hahn embraces the virtuoso nature of the violin with Kreisler's Variations on a Theme by Corelli.  She played the piece with a "fearless exhibition."

Overall, it appears as is Mr. Kosman enjoyed the recital.  He did not consider the contemporary pieces as irritants.  Instead he embraces the diversity of the programming choices rather than rejecting them outright.  These two reviews provide examples as to why you cannot just listen to one critic or reviewer to formulate an opinion.  It is important to either experience the music or event or if you cannot be there consider multiple sources.