Grieg & Schumann: Piano Concertos

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It was the Grieg Concerto that first made the name of Leif Ove Andsnes on disc in 1990. The interpretation remains broadly the same, except that speeds are now rather brisker. However many times... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 24th Sep 2007
Catalogue No: 5034192
Label: Warner Classics
Series: Recommends
Length: 48 minutes

Gramophone Awards

2004

Winner - Concerto
Penguin Guide

Rosette

Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Work length28:55

Album only

Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Mariss Jansons
Recorded: 2002-12-22
Recording Venue: 20-22 December 2002, Philharmonie, Berlin

I. Allegro molto moderato

Track length12:46

Album only

II. Adagio

Track length6:09

$1.30

$1.70

III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato - Andante maestoso

Track length10:00

Album only

Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Work length19:50

Album only

Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Mariss Jansons
Recorded: 2002-12-21
Recording Venue: Live Recording: 20-21 December 2002, Philharmonie, Berlin

I. Allegro affettuoso

Track length4:30

Album only

II. Intermezzo (Andantino grazioso)

Track length5:07

$1.30

$1.70

III. Allegro vivace

Track length10:13

Album only

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

It was the Grieg Concerto that first made the name of Leif Ove Andsnes on disc in 1990. The interpretation remains broadly the same, except that speeds are now rather brisker. However many times he's performed the Grieg, Andsnes retains a freshness and expressiveness that always sounds spontaneous.
That inspirational quality is more markedly perceptible with the new version's faster tempos, but the expressive flights remain just as broad. In that contrast, he's firmly supported by Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic, with playing not just refined but dramatic too in fiercely exciting tuttis. Schumann's cello melodies are gloriously warm, with textures in both works admirably clear, and Andsnes fully responds to Schumann's espressivo and ritardando requests.
Though both Stephen Kovacevich and Murray Perahia are equally spontaneous, they tend not to be quite so free in their expressive flights; EMI's finely balanced digital sound and the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic are also in this version's favour. Andsnes also offers slightly faster basic speeds than his rivals; particularly enjoyable is the free-flowing tempo for the central Andantino grazioso of the Schumann, which you'd never mistake for a simple Andante.

2011 edition

His virtuosity is commanding but it is never at the expense of tenderness and poetic feeling. The performane, recorded live in Berlin, is ever spontaneous-sounding with soaring flights of the imagination.

Grieg & Schumann: Piano Concertos

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