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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Grieg's 66 Lyric Pieces range from simple pretty tunes like the early "Arietta" that opens this disc to more extended pieces like the dashing "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen" to impressionistic miniature tone poems like the late "Summer Evening." Here, Andsnes plays 24 of them, well-chosen to cover a representative selection from the complete sets. He plays them beautifully, with a lovely tone, virtuoso polish when such is called for, as in the express ride of "March of the Trolls," and poetic depth of feeling, as in "The Brook," where in his interpretation you can almost smell the grass and see the light ripples of the water. Gilels's selection on DG, with minimum overlap, is still unmatched, but Andsnes's well-recorded recital is a source of endless pleasures. Of added interest, the recording was made at Grieg's home, now a museum, on his 1892 Steinway. --Dan Davis
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I first began seriously listening to classical/instrumental music I wanted to build a collection of cds that would cover all the great works. At first I thought this might not seem too difficult, until I began realizing that many works have many "must-have" interpretations. For example, In Ashenkazy's "Favorite Piano Works of Chopin" I thought I had the definitive Chopin recording...until I heard significantly different and fascinating interpretations of much of the same works by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, followed by Martha Argerich.
And the same holds true for the lyric pieces of Grieg, first encountered by Emil Gilels on his famous DG recording of the 70's, and now by Leif Ove Andsnes. Both of these recordings take me to significantly different musical places, and hence I'm glad to have listened to each at least 50 times now. It doesn't have to be "either or" when it comes to deciding which to buy. Listen to both and I guarantee each will find separate places in your heart. In Gilels you may find more elegance and sensitivity to each note, while in Andsnes you'll tend to find more force, uplift, and variation of intensity. In either case I'm sure Grieg would have realized that both have lived the dreams that are promised within his work to all great, dedicated performers.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Guilty. I admit not having taken the time to listen to any of Leif Ove Andsnes recordings until I recently acquired this one at an Ebay auction (at a price that was far too good to pass up). Now I may have to seek out his other recordings as well beacasue this one is clearly a winner.
I grew up with the now legendary Emil Gilels recording of Grieg and Andsnes' new recording is worthy of comparison in the same breath. There is little overlap between the two recordings, eight pieces, out of the twenty played by Gilels and twenty-four by Andsnes. Ironically, both recordings begin and end with the same selections but Andsnes offers some of the more lively pieces in his set.
What really makes this recording novel is the use of Grieg's own Steinway piano from the 1890's in his studio. It is a wonderful instrument with a very rich sound, well suited to these very intimiate miniatures which are a whole musical genre unto themselves. Andsnes does not have to hold back because this piano can deliver and its sonority packs a very suprising punch. There are a few of the quirks unique to older pianos, but they only add to the overall performance. Listen and learn.
Perhaps my acquaintance with Andsnes was overdue, but this is a very fine recording--faithful to the instrument and its surroundings; and like the music of Grieg, something to be cherished. If you already own the Gilels recording, this is a nice addition too, or vice versa. I plan on enjoying both for a very long time. Thank you EMI for doing something worthwhile.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This review is for three categories of people considering the purchase of this CD.
1. For those who are not familiar with Grieg's Lyric Pieces: "enchanting" may be the best word to summarize this set of subtle, lyrical, and exotic short piano pieces. Grieg has a distinctive voice as a composer, and these pieces showcase his ideas well. Modal harmonies and Scandanavian sounds mix effortlessly with traditional romantic beauty to create a sparkling spectrum of moods and textures. If you are a fan of piano music looking for something other than Beethoven and Chopin, try Grieg next.
2. For those who have the Gilels CD and wonder whether to get this one too: YES. Fourteen of the pieces on this CD are not on Gilels's, including favorites like March of the Dwarfs, Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, and the Waltz in A minor. On at least a few of the pieces that overlap, I'll admit a slight preference for Gilels, but even so, there is little redundancy, because the differences in interpretation are often fascinating in their own right.
3. For those deciding whether to start with this or Gilels: I recommend this one, for one main reason. Andsnes plays a few more of the early pieces than Gilels. Grieg's style changed quite a bit over the years, so I feel that the more rounded set on this CD would probably make a better introduction. Still, you won't go wrong with either.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Crisp, elegant performances of Grieg.
Leif Ove Andsnes is Norway's most famous living classical musician, probably its most famous pianist since Grieg himself. Andsnes was allowed (invited? Read more
Published 22 months ago by Miles D. Moore
A tense and fast interpretation
I've heard 4 interpretations now, and I certainly wont quibble that Leif Oves Andnes has a bad technique. It's dazzling. Read more
Published on January 8, 2010 by M. Henri De Feraudy
Andsnes the piano man
Just finished listening to the disc and very pleased - lots of light and airy works some towards the end are very *soft* with surprising CRESENDOS at the end to wake u up! Read more
Published on January 7, 2007 by Brian D. Kline
Suspicious Reviewer
I am sure Emil Gilels' recording cannot be surpassed but why not get both? After all, there isn't much of overlap. Read more
Published on October 18, 2005 by Johnson Lee
A great pianist?
To be called a great pianist doesn't necessarily mean you are a great pianist. What makes this pianist great? I actually don't know. Read more
Published on February 26, 2005 by Dag Johansen
Not quite Emil Gilels
I've always been a big Andsnes fan but I must say that I find the 1974 Emil Gilels rendition much more "lyrical" and sensitively rendered. Read more
Published on June 11, 2002
Andsnes In Top Form
I am not familiar with the Emil Giles' recording of the Lyric Pieces so I cannot compare them to the selection by Lief Ove Andsnes recorded here. Read more
Published on May 6, 2002 by D. A Wend
Andsnes' Splendid Playing Of Grieg's Lyric Pieces
Leif Ove Andsnes' latest traversal of Grieg's Lyric Pieces compares favorably to Emil Gilels' distinguished 1974 recording for Deutsche Grammophon. Read more
Published on April 27, 2002 by John Kwok
Glorious!
Not what I expected at all. This is glorious, soaring, lyrical. Carries the full understanding of the burden of being human in an often inhuman world and the beauty which makes... Read more
Published on April 5, 2002
Grieg as Grieg might have heard his music...
I agree with the previous reviewer's recommendation of the Gilels recording of Grieg. It is beautiful, poetic. Read more
Published on April 1, 2002 by Kenneth J. Luurs
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