Superstar violinist Hilary Hahn isn't just a performer. She's also a champion of new music, as evidenced by her commissioning project, In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores, for which she asked 27 composers to write short-form works for violin and piano. “There's an idea of the encore being a virtuosic showpiece,” Hahn noted in an NPR interview. “I found that a lot of composers in this project wanted to redefine the term 'encore.' They wanted to create a different kind of virtuosity, or they wanted to create a lyricism or a thoughtfulness that they had missed in certain kinds of encores in the past.” This week, the Los Angeles Philharmonic presents Hilary Hahn in Recital, in which Hahn and pianist Corey Smythe perform some of these fascinating new encores, including Eliot Sharp's Storm of the Eye, David Lang's Light Moving, Jeff Myers' The Angry Birds of Kauai, David Del Tradici's Farewell and James Newton Howard's 133 … at Least. But Hahn's not neglecting the old favorites; the program also features Fauré's fiery Sonata in A major, Mozart's elegant Sonata No. 19, K. 302, and that death-defying virtuoso showcase violinists just can't resist: the “Chaconne” from Bach's Partita No. 2. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Tues., May 8, 8 p.m.; $55-$112. Hahn will give a CD signing following the performance. (323) 850-2000, laphil.com.

Tue., May 7, 8 p.m., 2013

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