Hilary Hahn Returns to the Concert Stage After Injury
Following a seven-month recovery from a double-pinched nerve, violinist Hilary Hahn has announced her return to the concert stage at the end of February.
Violinist Hilary Hahn. Photo by Chris Lee.
Hilary will play the Brahms Violin Concerto in a four-concert series with the New York Philharmonic, led by conductor Herbert Blomstedt. The concerts are Feb. 26, 27, March 1 and 2, click here for information and tickets.
"Coming back to perform with this orchestra feels like a homecoming - they're family to me, and it's especially meaningful to build upon our wonderful residency collaboration from last season," Hilary said in a statement on Facebook and Instagram.
Following the Feb. 27 performance, Hilary will join violinist Amaryn Olmeda, cellist Seth Parker Woods and pianist Conor Hanick to perform with New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck and dancers Roman Mejia and India Bradley as part of the Kravis Nightcap Series, which takes place at 10 p.m.
Violinist Hilary Hahn with dancer Tiler Peck. Image courtesy of the New York Philharmonic.
The program combines movement and music, featuring a small recital's worth of music: Max Richter’s "Mercy"; Jessie Montgomery’s "Musings"; Carlos Simon’s "Between Worlds" and "be still and know"; Ysaÿe’s Violin Sonata, "Ballade"; J.S. Bach’s Courante from Partita No. 1; and selections from Walker’s Cello Sonata.
"I'm particularly excited to share that I'm developing a new Nightcap program with my friend and collaborator Tiler Peck, along with other amazing artists," Hilary said.
"As I continue my journey of physical recovery, I'm taking a measured approach to my performance schedule, ensuring I have adequate rest between concerts," Hilary said. "This careful balance will help me give my absolute best to each performance and to the music we all love so deeply. This means I have had to cancel several previously announced concerts."
One of those concerts was a classical subscription concert for the Houston Symphony on March 7, 8, and 9, in which Hilary was also scheduled to perform the Brahms concerto. Instead, London-based Italian violinist Francesca Dego will perform the Brahms, making her Houston Symphony debut. (More information here.)
Hilary continued, "I'm grateful for the understanding from presenters and audiences where this is necessary, because I know this is what I have to do to keep making music for as long as possible—hopefully until I'm 97, like Maestro Blomstedt!"
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Replies
Great news! As a Blomstedt fan, I'm happy to see him still going strong at age 97!!
Ms. Hahn: Welcome back. This is great news for everyone, and is what we all need, especially in today's challenging world.
So glad to hear that Ms. Hahn is back! I agree with Paul that she is not exactly pulling any punches by choosing the Brahms!
Just curious: does anybody know the location of her nerve damage? Fingers? Neck?
Francisca Dego who was tapped to share Brahms privileges is quite a talent herself, btw
Ms. Hahn is certainly very brave, returning from an injury with the Brahms! I wish her all the best as she continues to mend.
@Paul Deck: I'm with you. After seven months away, I would program something a little less finger-bending than Brahms.
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February 22, 2025 at 02:45 PM · Brahms? Seriously? I think I would have made my comeback-from-injury with Haydn.