Customer Reviews

Schumann & Grieg: Piano Concertos; Leif Ove Andsnes

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Leif Ove Andsnes joins an already crowded field in this splendid CD, coupling the popular Grieg and Schumann piano concertos. This CD is as splendid as classic recordings of the same works by Stephen (Bishop) Kovacevich and Sir Colin Davis, Krystian Zimmerman and Herbert von Karajan and Murray Perahia and Sir Colin Davis. Regrettably, this fine EMI recording lacks the warmth I've heard in the earlier Phillips, Deutsche Grammophon and Sony (CBS) recordings I've mentioned, otherwise it would surely be regarded as the best. Andsnes offers a glowing, lyrical performance of the Grieg piano concerto that is better than his early 1990's recording made with a lesser known Norwegian orchestra and Russian conductor. His vibrant playing is well supported by conductor Mariss Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic. Their performances can be best described as silky, smooth, rich in atmosphere and sonority. Without question this may be regarded as one of the definitive recordings of the Grieg piano concerto in the 21st Century. The Schumann piano concerto is just as fine, with more of Andsnes' lyrical, graceful playing and warm, vibrant performances from the Berlin Philharmonic; most notably its string and brass sections.

Andsnes is such a pianist who can make a very striking point in his performances without ever doing `too much', a most welcome ability, particularly in pieces that sometimes fall prey to unnecessarily sluggish Romantic interpretations. The Grieg concerto can, in the wrong hands, sound like a shorter version of the saccharine Tchaikovsky B flat minor. No such things in Andsnes' performance, however. He has an impressive and authoritative command of the music and never lacks in lyricism, strength or virtuosity, yet there's nothing at all in his playing that sounds forced, exaggerated or overly aggressive. His wonderful build-up of the climax in the first movement cadenza is simply priceless. And listen to the enthusiasm with which he jumps into the third movement's main theme (also in the recap). It sounds so simple, yet the effect is marvellous. But Andsnes can also play in perfect sympathy with a conductor, as it shows here. This time, I thought the standard picture inside the booklet of pianist-and-conductor-staring-at-score was genuine. Andsnes and Jansons (who conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker) simply collaborate together perfectly. In the final for example, it seems as if both are constantly driving each other further. Jansons' BPhO also has a wonderfully rich and beautiful sound. The flutes and strings in the typically Norse theme that appears after 2'40 in the final, for instance, are marvellous.

The other concerto here is the Schumann, a piece that can be treated as merely chamber music (as in the classic Richter recording). But Andsnes and Jansons choose for a more large-scale approach that fits the piece equally well, I think. In fact, it is played so well that you hardly need other performances than this. There's a great feeling for the structure: every phrase in the concerto seems to follow completely logically after the previous one. Even more importantly, the pianist and the orchestra again play as though they're speaking through one mouth. This may be even more important than in the Grieg, because I think it's mainly the *combination* of piano and orchestral sound that can make the Schumann concerto sound so special. One of my favourite moments occurs after 3'30 in the first movement, where the piano starts a rousing melody that ends in an orchestral tutti after 4'00. As played here, it is exactly the way I think it should sound, with all its amazing subtleties and poetry. This is essentially what makes the whole concerto so good: listen closely and you'll hear how precisely Andsnes and Jansons respond to each other. But in the `solo' moments they are equally impressive: listen to Andsnes' thrilling first movement cadenza or the little orchestral fugue three minutes into the final, or the wonderful tutti after 4'30, with great timpani support as well. This all makes a pretty impressive recording and a very strong coupling of the Grieg and Schumann concertos altogether. The sound is very good too, although there's some hiss in the background (may be caused by the fact that it's recorded live). Overall a simply essential disc for those who like piano concertos in general.

Despite the fact that there are already so many beautiful recordings available of these popular concertos (e.g. Andsnes and Katayenko's 1991 performance on Virgin Classics or Zimmerman and von Karajan on DG or Kovacevich and Sir Colin Davis on Philips), this new coupling of these so well-known masterpieces of the romantic repertoire is far beyond words, even close to immaculate perfection.

The creamy, glooming and fullblooded tone of the peerless Berlin Philharmonic under Jansons opposed to the fenomenal pianistic subdued noblesse and passionate poetry of this absolutely stunning pianist,result in both an aristocratic and overwhelming outburst of pure romantic music, a truly classic interpretation.

Especially the Grieg performance will become undoubtebly one of THE recordings of the century, unwrapped of all common clichés, breathing with an impressionistic glow. The cadenza in the end of the first part, astonishing. The intro of the second movement with an acquiescent and silken horn section of the Berlin Philharmonic, of a rare beauty. The climax of the slow movement,two hands of Andsnes touching the piano with a yearning and deeply moving intensity. The third movement, a pure osmosis between orchestra and soloist.

This performance is really the one to have, especially on cold and sometimes sad winter eves, even when your cd compartment is already filled with two or three versions of these concertos.

Music for the centuries.

Even if it could be judgded that it's very difficult to surpass the legendary Richter performance of the Schumann concerto (Original recordings on DG), this live performance full of volatile and passionate outbursts opposed to the many chilled restraint passages by the orchestra and the fenomenal Andsnes again equals perfection.

The EMI sound quality of this disc is impeccable, revealing every detail and every shade of these beautiful pages.

Buy it. You'll never regret.

I can't help questioning the intention of one of the reviewers named Dag Johansen. He is proactively reviewing most of Andsnes' CDs and giving them very poor rating. In fact, all he is reviewing are Andsnes', no other.
I don't mind that if it is truly his honest opinion but there's something fishy here... why does he keep buying Andsnes' CDs if he hates his playing so much? It's as if he is trying to damage the artist's reputation... Shady....

I have not actully heard this CD or any of Andsnes'. Just felt I needed to report on this.

I must admit I was sceptical at first when I heard that Andsnes was releasing this new CD of the Grieg and Schumann concertos. As much as I feared that this might be a run-of-the-mill performance, I found I was very well pleased with the result. Although I own the Lupu CD of these kindred souls of piano concertos (and found them perfectly balanced), I soon found that this Andsnes version runs rings around all the other versions I have heard so far. No matter what other people say, Andsnes is a superb pianist who gives well-rounded and balanced accounts of these two concertos, backed by punchy accompaniment from Jansons and the Berliners, and a sumptuous EMI recording that lacks a little in detail and clarity.

The Grieg concerto starts out with a punchy first movement, energetic and poetic, as if Andsnes and Jansons are setting sparks off at each other. Andsnes' opening flourish is firm and weighty, but he counterbalances it with a due sense of poetry in the quieter sections of the movement. The slow movement is meditative but it never drags the concerto, and Andsnes, true to his Norweigan roots, really relishes the dance-like finale. In the secondary theme of the finale he is given excellent support by the winds, especially the flautist, in evoking the Norweigan fjords that might have inspired this music. The Schumann is a beautifully renderred version, and Andsnes taps more into his poetic gifts here. One hears a continuous forward momentum in this work that I tend to find sorely lacking in other recordings. Andsnes conveys a strength and a vulnerability crucial in this piece, and the first movement really stands out. The Intermezzo ably bridges the first movement and the finale, and one can hear a joie de vivre here.

In short, I would recommend this disc to every lover of classical music and especially piano music, no matter how many other versions of these concertos you have. I think that even though I disagree with most music critics, this was well-deserving of the Rosette and the Gramophone Editor's Choice that it garnered.

Leif Ove Andsnes is wisely pacing his career with recordings not only of varied repertoire and dividing his time with solo collections, chamber ensembles, and collaborations (the magnificent Schubert 'Winterreise' with Ian Bostridge recording, for a fine example!), but he seems to be marking his maturity with repeated recordings of works he has championed. This stunning recoding of the Grieg Piano Concerto benefits enormously from the collaboration with Mariss Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Recorded live, the sound of this CD is lush and velvety smooth, quite in keeping with Andsnes richly flowing Grieg. This is the quality of commitment to the Grieg that he is currently stunning audiences at the Los Angeles Philharmonic performances. The added pleasure of the Schumann Piano Concerto rounds out a performance that deservedly won the Gramophone Award for Best Concerto category. This is as fine as it gets and should be part of every collection despite the possible duplications of these two works. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

This CD has one of the more splendid Grieg Piano Concerto recordings on it that I own, and I own many. Curiously, since the creation of the long playing record, the Grieg Concerto is almost always paired with Schumann's Piano Concerto. I don't really get the resemblance, yet the minds behind this pairing must be of the opinion that one can't be done without the other, so there you are. The Schumann seems like an addendum here; its OK though not on the same ultra high level as the Grieg.

Leif Ove Andsnes clearly distinguishes this Grieg Concerto from its modern day competition. He plays with sizzling rhythmic precision; that is a constant with this fine artist. His more recent Haydn Sonata recording displays just how perfectly he can play fast passages with every note perfectly balanced in time no matter the speed. Everything is in its proper place. But its not just timing, its also the ability to gauge volume in a rapidly moving line. Every note seems to be calibrated to fit with the previous as well as the next one. Few pianists indeed have this ability in such abundance as does Andsnes.

The Grieg has more going for it than just the rhythm of timing and dynamics; Andsnes brings to it an incisive dramatic tension. The contrasts in mood are excellent. It may be the best version of a still young artist out there who is of the generation that almost all make Prokofiev the model of tonal beauty and rich phrasing. Is it possible that so few "artists" have Andsnes' latter-day insight into this concerto?

Oddly, here the Schumann concerto seems not to be Andsnes cup of tea. The competition is far fiercer too. He is not as flexible in the Schumann as he is disciplined in the Grieg. That's the only real problem with this the second piece on the CD. Still, even if the Grieg were the only thing on the disc it would be worth purchasing. For that reason alone, this recording is highly recommended.

For several yars now a have been a great fan of Andsnes, his soft tone, the preciseness, he is a truly great pianist. And on this CD he really shows his mastery.

The Grieg concerto is great, I think it is even better than his last recording of concerto, but the Schumann is a tremendous achievement.

Somebody can play it differently, but nobody can play it "better".

Those are for sure great performances. Very good for Grieg but thrilling
for Schumann. This is one of the best recordings of Schumann`s Piano Concerto
in modern sound. This couple (Grieg-Schumann) is much more preferable than Zimerman/Karajan`s for DG. Absolutely recommended.

Even if you already own one or more excellent versions of this coupling (e.g. the superb Lupu one), I urge you to at least consider this disc. Andsnes has recorded the Grieg before, but I haven't heard that version so I cannot really compare. The playing here is at least mellifluous and wonderfully phrased and the lyrical, more reflective passages are splendidly done, with an acute ear for subtle shifts in mood and sonorities and a firm grasp of the overall argument. That is not to say that the performance lacks drama and flair - far from it; it is as smoldering and fiery as one would want; the point is that Andsnes brings an almost unrivalled lush ripeness to the music.

Part of what makes this performance so impressive is also the interplay with the orchestra, which itself gives a splendid performance (not surprisingly), and it is a virtue that despite its excellence, the soloist doesn't drown out the superb contributions from the Berlin players (there are particularly fine contributions from the brass, in particular in various solos).

The performance of the Schumann concerto is perhaps not quite as outstanding, even though it is still impressive. Here Andsnes sounds maybe a little less involved, less poetic and more matter-of-fact. Sure, the phrasing is still exquisite and there is much to admire about it - it does exhibit most of the qualities found in the Grieg performance after all - but overall the solo playing leaves me a tad cold. Perhaps it is a little superficial, only hinting at the depths of the layers of poetry? The orchestral contribution is however as impressive as in the Grieg, and Jansons lead a well-judged, finely paced performance with lots of color. And in the end I certainly don't want to sound to harsh; the virtues of this performance do without doubt far outweigh the slight traces of vices.

The sound quality is warm and vivid with lots of presence, and the balance is extraordinarily good in the Grieg (allowing us to hear all those important orchestral details), although in the Schumann the piano sounds perhaps a little too subdued (maybe the balance here is what is really mostly to blame for my small qualms concerning the performance?). Anyway, this is overall marvelous accounts, one to be set besides the classic Lupu/Previn one, for instance.