Leif Ove Andsnes

Mark,

Interesting question. I am curious too since he's going to be visiting Chicago next season playing the same repertoires. 

Attend the concert and let us know?

I wasn't too thrilled with his Beethoven Journey CD but I am going to hear him play the Piano Concerto No.4 in June.

I love his Schubert and Grieg but not too convinced of him doing Beethoven pieces yet.

...to be honest I don't have a CD from the guy - so as such I would not go and see him. Artist I would see in concert are:

Lang Lang

Alice Sara Ott

Paul Lewis

...

His Janacek - On An Overgrown Path has real magic. How that translates into Beethoven I just don't know though!

Now that I don't understand!

Thanks for the replies so far.

I have seen a few pianists live, listed in an order where I have enjoyed most the performance.

Grigory Sokolov (every year since 2007)

Radu Lupu

Michael Korstick

Paul Lewis

Maurizo Pollini

Piotr Anderszewski (replacing a sick Murray Perahia )

The last one was a mistake and we should have not gone. Lack of time to prepare for a last minute replacement I assume. I really like the early Pollini (his Chopin especially), but for that concert we were so far away from the stage, I think this was more why it was less enjoyable. This concert was also cancelled and performed several months later. I did enjoy very much the Liszt b-minor sonata though.

I have also never really been that drawn in by Lang Lang either.

I will probably go, but I think that the older pianists have the upper hand with a captivating performance.

Regards,

Mark

Hello EJ,

I will probably go and see him in that case, because I do like the sonatas in the program, but will wait to see what comes out of his Beethoven concerto program and any reviews that come along. There is so much coming up that I can't see everything.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard performing the 24 preludes from Claude Debussy
Andras Schiff performing the English Suites from J. S. Bach
Grigory Sokolov unless he takes a year off

As I said, Anderszewski replaced Perahia very late in the day with some very challenging stuff (exclusively J.S.Bach). Also there was an annoying person behind that coughed all the way through the first half. All 8 people that surrounded him quizzed him during the pause with one saying yes we understand that you have a sore throat and another being kind to offer a complete supply of throat pastels....

I really like the diabelli variations with the disc from Sokolov being my favourite one. I saw Paul Lewis in England play this in an old church in Buckinghamshire. This was also an excellent performance, but we did not have the best of seats.

Regards,

Mark

I am going to the same recital next month.

Hi Graham,

I know a lot of people are skeptical about Lang Lang. However I have had one of the most memorable concerts with Lang Lang playing Chopin's 2nd - this was beyond words...

Andras Schiff is another favourite of mine. I think nearly all of his discs on ECM New Series are wonderful. I was immediately hooked with the Beethoven cello sonatas disc,  the Schubert disc and the early Schumann disc with ECM.

Agreed about the WTC. I think that I saw somewhere that later this year will be the diabelli variations and look forward to see how he does there. Although I think he feels much more at home playing Bach than Beethoven.

If you are able to listen to bluray discs, there is a wonderful performance which I like.

http://www.euroarts.com/artike...t_2010_andras_schiff

Regards,

Mark

Hi Kuma,

We have to wait until October here

Look forward to hear what you have to say about the performance.

So far the performances of these works that I am most familar with are

I have recently picked up the following which is so far quite enjoyable

Regards,

Mark

Mark,

The fact that I don't have a fascination with the ECM label sets me apart on this forum  I haven't heard any of his late work beyond the Bach, as I wasn't too thrilled about him when he was younger - especially his early Bach was a dry as dust. I should really give him a second chance.

EJ

EJ

You should give him another chance . Some of the Beethoven cycle (on ECM ) is fantastic. I also like the Bach Partitas disc (also on ECM).

Regards,

Mark

Originally Posted by mtuttleb:

So far the performances of these works that I am most familar with are

Mark,

I am not familiar with Lubinovs but Michelangeli's Prelude is excellent.
I also fancy Giseking's Preludes. There aren't many pianists who can create the Debussy's pastel-hued dreamscape so convincingly.

I don't own many Aimard's recording except his Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle with Harnoncourt. He did not make much of an impression lacking fire and attitude and thought perhaps he might be more comfortable playing Debussy program. 

It would be interesting what he does with it. ( and hope noone coughs during the recital )

Originally Posted by EJS:The fact that I don't have a fascination with the ECM label sets me apart on this forum 

+1 

Never have I heard a great [technically speaking] recording from them or an interesting performance leads me to agree. I have tried, but null points to ECM from this quarter. A rare negatorio post from me.

ATB from George

PS: On the other hand LE. Andsnes is rather good Greig pianist!

Dear George,

I am curious to see what examples have led you to such conclusions about ECM.

Best Regards,

Mark

I don't really understand the ECM bashing here

They have some great artists and live venues. Attention to detail in capturing the performance.

Regards,

Mark

I second Andsnes' Janacek, not heard his other disks and the reviews of the Beethoven were poor. I'd still go to see him if he's local.