SKANEATELES - Violinist Hilary Hahn - recently named "America's Best" young classical musician by Time Magazine -- wowed audiences during the final week of the Skaneateles Festival, Chamber Music by the Lake.
At Wednesday's KidsFest, it was sitting-room only at Skaneateles Presbyterian Church's Dobson Hall as Hahn invited youngsters to come near her on the floor.
"Music illustrates visual art; visual art illustrates music," Hahn said, explaining why, for the first time, she had included ballerina Theresa Farrell and choreographer Lincoln Jones in the program. As Farrell scattered rosin on the floor so she wouldn't slip, Hahn told the young audience she applies rosin to the bow of her violin for the same reason.
She began the first movement of a sonata as Farrell, a member of American Contemporary Ballet, improvised dance to the music. The children were dazzled.
Before playing the third movement, Hahn encouraged the youngsters to "make as much noise as possible," explaining, "when there are performances of classical music, all must be very quiet so that musicians may concentrate." Then, while Farrell took a rest, Hahn invited the children to dance while she played.
Maria Norris, 10, and her sister, Emily, 6, demonstrated their grace, weaving and twirling to Hahn's exquisite playing. Others joined in, showing their improvisation, bowing at the end. Maria said she "liked all of it," while her younger sister said, "I especially liked the dancing."
Thursday evening's concert, "Shall We Dance?," was sprinkled through with dance music, first by Debussy, a sophisticated, elegant piece; and a spirited tango by Piazzolla, performed by violin, cello and piano.
A festival first was harpist Judy Loman, who explained her instrument to the audience and told them she would be playing a work by Salzedo, the teacher she studied with from age 13 to 19.
The second half of the program featured Hahn and pianist Natalie Zhu performing two sonatas for violin and piano, Beethoven's E-flat major, Op. 122, No. 3 and Enescu#'s A minor, Op. 25 "In Romanian Popular Style." The standing ovation prompted an encore, a tango by Albeniz arranged by Kreisler.
Hahn, 25, has performed with the Skaneateles Festival since age 12. She began playing the violin at 3, made her major orchestra debut in 1991 with the Baltimore Symphony and at 16, her Carnegie Hall debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Zhu, the recipient of many awards, has performed throughout North America, Europe and China. They are longtime friends and classmates at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music.
"Music illustrates visual art; visual art illustrates music," Hahn said, explaining why, for the first time, she had included ballerina Theresa Farrell and choreographer Lincoln Jones in the program. As Farrell scattered rosin on the floor so she wouldn't slip, Hahn told the young audience she applies rosin to the bow of her violin for the same reason.
She began the first movement of a sonata as Farrell, a member of American Contemporary Ballet, improvised dance to the music. The children were dazzled.
Before playing the third movement, Hahn encouraged the youngsters to "make as much noise as possible," explaining, "when there are performances of classical music, all must be very quiet so that musicians may concentrate." Then, while Farrell took a rest, Hahn invited the children to dance while she played.
Maria Norris, 10, and her sister, Emily, 6, demonstrated their grace, weaving and twirling to Hahn's exquisite playing. Others joined in, showing their improvisation, bowing at the end. Maria said she "liked all of it," while her younger sister said, "I especially liked the dancing."
Thursday evening's concert, "Shall We Dance?," was sprinkled through with dance music, first by Debussy, a sophisticated, elegant piece; and a spirited tango by Piazzolla, performed by violin, cello and piano.
A festival first was harpist Judy Loman, who explained her instrument to the audience and told them she would be playing a work by Salzedo, the teacher she studied with from age 13 to 19.
The second half of the program featured Hahn and pianist Natalie Zhu performing two sonatas for violin and piano, Beethoven's E-flat major, Op. 122, No. 3 and Enescu#'s A minor, Op. 25 "In Romanian Popular Style." The standing ovation prompted an encore, a tango by Albeniz arranged by Kreisler.
Hahn, 25, has performed with the Skaneateles Festival since age 12. She began playing the violin at 3, made her major orchestra debut in 1991 with the Baltimore Symphony and at 16, her Carnegie Hall debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Zhu, the recipient of many awards, has performed throughout North America, Europe and China. They are longtime friends and classmates at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music.
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