Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Paavo Berglund, Leif Ove Andsnes :: Leif Ove Andsnes ~ Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 3 · 5 Etudes-tableaux

Andsnes is Worthy of the Praise He's Been Getting

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 08/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ever since Leif Ove Andsnes burst on the scene a few years ago he's been getting the kind of praise that I must confess puts me off. It seems that every few years we get new Horowitzes or Rubinsteins. And almost as often these pianists disappear after a few years. I won't mention any names, but you probably know whom I mean. Andsnes, though, is different. Although I've never heard him in person, I have friends whose judgment I trust who, no pushovers, have universally been extremely impressed. I, too, was really impressed with his recording, with Simon Rattle, of the Brahms First and his recent CD of selections from Grieg's Lyric Pieces.I've lived with this recording of the Rachmaninov Third Concerto now for about a year--even though it was released eight years ago or so, I just acquired it in the summer of 2002--and I must say that it is the performance I reach for most often. I've had to ask myself why and I think it's a combination of things. First, I want to suggest that the Oslo Philharmonic under Paavo Berglund has, if anything, improved even more since its quantum-leap in quality during the years that Mariss Jansons was its main conductor. This orchestra is simply superb, and Berglund, of course, is wonderful in the Slavic literature. If you don't believe me, listen to his 1989 recording of the Tchaikovsky 'Serenade for Strings' and the Dvorák Op. 22 'Serenade.' But one doesn't choose a recording of the Rachy Three on the basis of the orchestral playing, although that's very important. No, one judges it primarily on the basis of the pianist. Andsnes has a BIG technique so that this bugbear of a concerto holds no terrors for him. That's almost a given. But listen to the clarity, the molding of phrases, the subtle rubato, the superb legato in those singing lines, the rhythmic precision in, say, the excitable third movement, the Slavic soul in the middle movement. So often in this piece there is a kind of muddy jumble in the recorded sound; not here. Every note in both piano and orchestra stands out. I've followed this recording a number of times, score in hand, and have repeatedly had my attention caught by little details that one doesn't usually hear; e.g. little bassoon fillips in the middle of the first movement--I swear I'd never heard them before!At the risk of letting my praise go over the top, I'll stop and say that this is my current favorite Rachy Three. Give it a try. Oh, I almost forgot: The five included Études-tableaux aren't chopped liver, either, although I doubt anyone will buy this disc solely for them. Scott Morrison"

Sweeping performance by Andsnes

Evert206@aol.com | Boston, MA | 12/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music on this wonderful disc touches the soul and leave you stunned at the final notes of concert no.3. This is the best Rach 3 I have ever heard. Leif Ove Andsnes and the superb orchestra seem to find each other in magical perfection."