Q & A: Hilary Hahn, Grammy Nominated Violinist

29-year-old Hilary Hahn has been in Los Angeles for the past week, first to play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and then this weekend to attend the Grammy Awards where she is nominated--along with LA Phil's Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra--for Best Classical Album and Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra).

The Grammy nominated Deutsche Grammophon album of Schoenberg and Sibelius Violin Concertos became the only Schoenberg recording ever to hit the best-selling classical charts. Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg is one of the most famous of the 20th century--he eventually moved to Los Angeles to teach at USC and UCLA and lived out his life here.

When you come to Los Angeles, what do you look forward to the most when experiencing the city?

I love the arts culture here. I have a lot of friends in the area, and I always look forward to seeing a new part of the city and going to great events with people I know I’m going to have fun with. Also, every time I’m here, I make sure to get to the beach at least once, to take a walk along the shoreline and get a little bit of sun. Even if it’s the dead of winter here and I’m bundled up in a scarf and hat, it still feels like a luxury.

What restaurants are a must do when you come here?

I don’t really go out to eat a lot; I prefer the markets. LA has a ton! Farmers’ markets, regional grocers, organic supermarkets - I never go hungry here. There is one place I like to go, as far as nightlife is concerned: Largo, the music venue. It just moved to the Coronet, and the shows are as good as ever.

How has the Los Angeles classical music scene changed since you first began playing?

I haven’t noticed a big change, but then again, I come in and out for brief periods, and that’s not the best frame of reference. Disney Hall has been a great addition; I was taken on a hard-hat tour there while it was being built, and I didn’t know exactly what I was looking at, because I’d never been in a concert hall while it was still a skeleton. But that gave me a great appreciation for how it has turned out. I really enjoy playing there. I’ve done a little bit of everything in LA: record-store shows, an in-store at Apple, recording my Bach concerto album with the LACO and James Newton Howard’s soundtrack to The Village, playing with the LA Phil at Dorothy Chandler, the Hollywood Bowl, and Disney, recitals at UCLA and Disney, you name it. There are so many artistic outlets here, it’s wonderful.

Who are favorite classical composers? Also, who are your favorite bands?

I don’t tend to have favorites. Whenever something jumps out at me as particularly fantastic, I discover something else that is just as good, so if I tried to pick just one, I’d go nuts! What I like most about classical music is the variety. There’s as much to choose from in classical music alone as in all other genres combined. As a listener, all you have to do is find one composer or one performer that appeals to you and then follow your instincts from there.

As far as favorite bands, outside of classical music I’ve been veering away from listening to bands and towards singer/songwriters and solo artists. Josh Ritter, Tom Brosseau, Gabe Kahane, Alexi Murdoch, Hauschka, Abigail Washburn, and lots of others. And then, I also like trip hop and old blues and jazz singers.

Could you live in Los Angeles? Why or why not?

I don’t know! I think the traffic would do me in.

Hehe, it's not for everyone. Thanks, Hilary and good luck at the Grammys!

On a side note, the LA Phil is indirectly involved in the Grammys too: the recording of their Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique performance with its future conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, is up for Best Engineered Album and is listed for David Frost's nomination as Producer of the Year.