HAOLI LIN

• Rimsky-Korsakov: Song of India (arr. F. Kreisler)

“consistently fine performances by both players... There is nothing missing here either technically or sonically, and it is sometimes fun to set aside all notions of profundity and deep expression and listen to music that is, in effect, nothing but encores. [This is a recital whose] sound, Romantic sensibility, fine playing and sense of enjoyment – which seeps through the interpretations – add up to considerable pleasure.”

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [November 2016]

“Haoli Lin’s repertoire presents the meat and potatoes of old-time violin recitals with refreshing naturalness and grace... The miracle, then: Lin has not only chosen the right repertoire but plays it the right kind of way. Manuel Ponce’s Estrellita soars thrillingly... his version of Grigoras Dinicu’s Hora Staccato crackles with the appropriate calibrated energy... he belts out [the Ysaÿe] thrillingly, with characteristically clean articulation, soaring tone, and almost succulently pure intonation. [Gluck’s 'Mélodie'] floats serenely on a mirror-like lake in his reading. Lin’s crispness in Paganini’s First Caprice evokes the magic name of Michael Rabin. Lin is equally crisp but makes more of the piece rhetorically, and he’s almost decadently seductive in the Amoroso of the 21st. Lin’s breathtaking version of Wieniawski’s Polonaise in D Major channels Nathan Milstein’s panache, equaling it in many if not all passages. The program concludes with a dazzling and tonally resplendent (though jaunty) performance of [Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy]. Hai Jin serves as a supportive and insightful accompanist. Even more miraculous, not only does Lin play these pieces as though he lived 60 years ago, but he writes about them intelligently (and all too briefly) as well... I would have wanted to acquire this recording in the 1950s when all the stuff by Rabin, Ruggiero Ricci, Milstein, Isaac Stern, Zino Francescatti, and—dare I say it, even Heifetz—appeared regularly in record store bins, though the recorded sound here exceeds anything those masters could have imagined... Lin transcends categories and speaks directly; breathtaking and urgently recommended.”

Robert Maxham, Fanfare [November/December 2016]

It is often claimed that modern ears, even after decades of acclimation to increasingly modern and harmonically dissonant music, still find their “home” in the sounds of romanticism. The emotional and sentimental qualities of romantic music, combined with its inherent virtuosity and brilliance, create an undeniable beauty of expression that few can resist. The violin, with its enormous palette of sounds, was a preferred solo instrumental voice of many romantic composers due to its capability to convey character ranging from the sweetest of lyrical singing tone to full-throated aggressive power. It is my hope that this recording elicits in the listener the same wide range of emotions that these pieces have evoked in me since my childhood. Sit back and enjoy the journey. [Haoli Lin, June 2016]


Violinist Haoli Lin is widely sought after as a soloist, recitalist and chamber player throughout the United States and China. Lin’s solo performances include concerto appearances with the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, China Youth Symphony Orchestra, Great Wall Soloists, Shenzhen Youth Symphony Orchestra, Shanxi Chamber Orchestra, and in the United States with the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra, Starling Chamber Orchestra and CCM Philharmonia. He has performed in prestigious concert halls throughout his native China, including Beijing’s National Center for Performing Arts, Beijing Concert Hall, and Shenzhen Concert Hall. The youngest prize winner of China’s national violin competition at age 18, he also won first prize at Michigan’s Andrews International String Competition in 2013 and is the recipient of a career grant from the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation. He has been featured on NPR’s From the Top, and in China on China Central Television, SZTV Broadcasting and STTV Broadcasting. In 2014, he was chosen to perform selections from Paganini’s Caprices for solo violin in touring performances with the Cincinnati Ballet to rave reviews. Lin studied with Pei Feng, Pei-Yan Liu and with renowned Chinese violin pedagogue Yaoji Lin at the Shenzhen Arts School. He attended the Great Wall International Music Academy for four years, and has collaborated with numerous renowned musicians, including Christopher O’Riley, Joel Hoffman, and Rohan De Silva. He has performed in master classes for Midori, Yair Kless, Miriam Fried and the American and Tokyo String Quartets. Lin earned BM and MM degrees as a Starling Scholarship recipient at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Ohio, USA). He is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree as a student of Kurt Sassmannshaus. [ www.HaoliLin.com ]

Pianist Hai Jin graduated from the China Conservatory of Music in 2009, where she studied with Bing Han. She has received numerous awards and prizes in competitions, and has performed recitals and orchestral collaborations throughout China. She made her American debut at Boston University in 2010. As a collaborative pianist, Jin has served as faculty at the Great Wall Music Academy in Beijing and at the Cleveland International Music Festival. As a chamber musician, she has toured with the Sassmannshaus Piano Trio to critical acclaim in both the United States and Asia. She has studied with Lee Fiser and Sandra Rivers, and has worked with Rohan De Silva, Hiram Diaz, Erinn Frechette, Heather Verbeck Harrison, and Gao Can. As a student of Awadagin Pratt, she earned AD and MM degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she is currently completing doctoral studies with James Tocco.

On this recording, Mr. Lin performs on two historic violins of the Neapolitan family Gagliano: a 1732 instrument made by Nicolò Gagliano (courtesy of Guadagnini Violin Shop, Chicago) and a 1750 instrument made by Januarius Gagliano (courtesy of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Collection).

Technical Information
Digitally recorded, edited and mastered in 24-bit/96kHz resolution
Microphones: Royer SF-24, Sennheiser MKH 8040, DPA 4006A
Microphone preamplifiers: Benchmark PRE-420 Manuel Ponce (1882-1948) | Arranged by Jascha Heifetz
ESTRELLITA

Grigoras Dinicu (1889-1949) | Arranged by Jascha Heifetz
HORA STACCATO

Jules Massenet (1842-1912)
MEDITATION (from Thaïs)

Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931)
VIOLIN SONATA NO.3 IN D MINOR “Georges Enescu” - Ballade

Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) | Arranged by Fritz Kreisler
MELODIE (from Orfeo ed Euridice)

Nicolò Paganini (1782-1840)
CAPRICE NO.1
CAPRICE NO.21

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) | Arranged by Fritz Kreisler
SONG OF INDIA (from Sadko)

Henri Wieniawski (1835-1880)
POLONAISE DE CONCERT, OP.4

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
APRÈS UN RÊVE

Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908)
CARMEN FANTASY, OP.25
I. Introduction: Allegro moderato
II. Moderato
III. Lento Assai
IV. Allegro moderato
V. Moderato
 



MSR Classics