Customer Reviews

Horizons - Leif Ove Andsnes

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According to the notes in this release the selections contained therein are a personal collection of piano encores selected and wonderfully played by pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. Indeed it is a rich and full recording (close to 70 minutes in length) of short (each averaging about 3 ½ minutes in length) piano works composed by (or arranged) composers such as Jean Sibelius, Felix Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin, Edward Grieg, Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt--to name a few. All of the selections are played very beautifully by Leif Ove Andsnes always with gorgeous tone through out the recording. Plus the encores on this disc are very interesting musically from the virtuosic Franz Liszt "Valse Impromptu" to the introspection and beauty of Debussy's "Clair de lune"
I really loved Smetana's "At the Sea" and Cyril Scott's two pieces opus 47. Infact I enjoyed this entire album immensely. It is truly played wonderfully and it contains some rather familiar works intermingled with some rather unknown repertoire played by a master of the piano. In addition the recorded sound is good too.

The appearance of this disk on many Best of 2006 lists came as no surprise. I heard Andsnes perform several of these selections in Chicago and Kalamazoo early in the year, and in Michigan even got a sampler CD of "Horizons" as we left the recital that whetted my appetite. Everything that makes Andsnes' playing compelling is here, but listen in particular for how, in so many of the pieces, he's able to bring out the left hand that are clearly not just microphone/recording studio wizardry. A true gem.

22 piano encores some familiar most not, at least to me, played with manly beauty by Leif Ove Andsnes. A treasure chest. A horizon expanding recording. 22 Bravos

Leif Ove Andsnes is an incredible artist on the piano and his talents are showcased in this cd. His artistry has an extensive range as exhibited in the diversity of this repertoire. This is classical piano at its best.

Leif Ove Andsnes indulges himself to record a full disc with lovely miniatures, given as encores throughout his famous career. Sensitive, delicate, witty, humorous, flamboyant, melancholic or joyful, these miniatures in Andsnes's hands delight the listener. The intensity of the music matters, not the dimensions. Simplicity and directness valued at the greatest extent. The Norwegian piano star knows how to balance all the feelings into such a miniature without making it vulgar or mawkish. His insight - inviting to restrain and intelligent poise in playing - seems to favor the story of each piece, its narrative side. The atmosphere is (re)created simply by going to essences. The range of styles and composers spans centuries. There are in line maestros of Romanticism (Mendelssohn, Liszt, Chopin, Grieg), national schools exponents (Smetana, Sibelius), impressionists (Debussy) Russian forces (Scriabin, Shostakovich), even Bach.

Enjoiable and lovely recording by a great classical pianist!

I like the way he made the songs come to life. They were filled with energy and feelings.

I never heard of Leif Ove Andsnes before but as soon as I heard the first track, I could already tell that he has a distinct style.