Leif Ove Andsnes:Liszt Recital

Franz Liszt:

Fantasia quasi Sonata: "Après une lecture du Dante" - from "Années de pélerinage, 2e année: Italie"

Valse oubliée no.4, Die Zelle in Nonnewerth: Élegie (version 4), Ballade no.2,

Andante lagrimoso - from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, no. 9

Mephistowaltzes nos. 1,2 & 4.

Leif Ove Andsnes, piano

2001. EMI Classics CDC 5 57002 2 (fullprice)

The career of Leif Ove Andsnes is going steadily from triumph to triumph, nonregarding it seems of repertoire or musical partnerships. He has made appearances with most of the world's great orchestras, playing in Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, London, New York, Chicago and several other major scenes. His recordings reflect an interest and enthusiasm for a wide range of music. His concertos on disc, be it Grieg, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Brahms or his breathtaking Haydn, all bear his hallmark of exquisit taste and raffinement. Some like his Rach.3 is perhaps slightly too elegant. Nevertheless one's expectations are invariably high on this pianist's release of newly recorded material. The peak of his recording carreer so far, surely must be his recording of three of Haydn's pianoconcertos (including the popular 11th.), for which he has recieved a Gramophone-Award, two Grammy nominations, and tons of general euforia from critics around the world (this humble amateur included).

It is however his recordings of music for solopiano which has made the most profound impact on me. His first recital being an acclaimed collection of Janácek's works for piano including his sonata and excerpts from "On an overgrown path" and "In the mists". This still is one of my personal favorites, revealing it seems the innermost strands of meaning in the music. An other recital of equal stature is his faboulus rendering of a selection of Carl Nielsen's music for the piano; including the "Luciferian Suite" and the great Chaconne. A doublealbum containing Chopin's three sonatas for solopiano and a selection of mazurkas and waltzes, has recieved welldeserved laurels from a diversity of critics, although it, in my opinion, can't quite compare to the Janácek and Nielsen recitals. A disc that can is his recording of Schmann's 3rd sonata and great C-major fantasy. A splendid album, up there to wrestle with the greats. His recital of Norwegian pianominiatures from 1998, containing works from Grieg, Valen, Saeverud, Tveitt and others, again proves his uncanny ability to make even the most minute among nuances appear gloriously. A fine disc of Rachmaninov songs appears the following year, with baritone Dmitri Kharitonov. Andsnes last recital before this one, was as sparkling an account as any I've heard of four of Haydn's pianosonatas. They are played with great verve and gusto, giving them a shining youthfulness. A little appetizer for the Haydn concertoalbum which was to appear a few months later.

I have to admit to being slightly surprised when listening to this brand new Liszt recital, expecting perhaps an approach close to the rather introverted and contemplative 2nd. pianoconcerto from 1990 (Virgin). The works in this recital are partly on the contemplative side of Liszt, such as Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth, and of course the Andante lagrimoso. But the more diabolical part of the composer is also present in the three Mephisto waltzes, and then there is of course the wonderful Dante sonata.

The much recorded Mephisto waltzes are all played with a dilligent regard to clarity of voice but are somewhat lacking in that true devilishness, the feeling of music diabolically driven forward - you know that slightly eerie excessivness, giving life to the creativity of the Faustian Mephisto. That aside they are, all three of them, performed with an acute sense of tonal texture, and are clearly recommended listening.

As for the two more introspective pieces, Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth and the Andante lagrimoso, they could not be in better hands. The astonishing sensitivity of touch and continious regard to their overall structure, makes them appear with a monumental dignity and stark beauty, while never disrobing them of their inner calm. The outwardly dramatic and heroic Ballade, boisterous and bearing atleast some kinship to Chopin's four cousins, is played with an appropriate measure of grandeur and virtuosity.

The real gem of the record however is the finest account I've ever heard of Liszt's superb Dante sonata. This wonderfully generous piece of music, is among my absolute favs when it comes to Liszt and his seemingly infinite piano. Far from being of the dense allconsuming nature of the great B-minor sonata, the Dante is sympathetic and warmly humane, yet rich and unbashfully outgoing, big and rewarding, and Leif Ove Andsnes makes it one of his finest moments on record - perhaps the finest. His articulation is razorsharp, not of the icecold Pollini kind, but clear and sparkling as the purest springwater. He moulds his approach with great care, enlightening the different passages in perfect harmony with their demands, creating a whole; gloriously crafted, redblooded and vital. This is Liszt for the ages, an account I'm more than pleased to add to my record collection.

The images are taken from the EMI Classics CD-booklet.