Andsnes, Leif Ove
Andsnes, Leif Ove
Andsnes, Leif Ove, outstanding Norwegian pianist; b. Stavanger, April 7, 1970. He took up the piano when he was only 5, and at age 16 he entered the Bergen Cons, of Music, where he pursued training with Jiři Hlinka. At 17, he made his formal debut in Oslo and was awarded the Hindemith Prize of Frankfurt am Main. In 1988 he won the Levin Prize of Bergen and the Norwegian Music Critics Prize of Oslo. He made his British debut as soloist with Jansons and the Oslo Phil, at the Edinburgh Festival in 1989, and subsequently was engaged by leading European orchs. In 1990 he won the Grief Prize of Bergen and made his U.S. debut as soloist with Järvi and the Cleveland Orch. at the Blossom Music Festival. He subsequently appeared as a soloist with major North American orchs., including those of Los Angeles, Detroit, San Francisco, St. Louis, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and Baltimore. In 1992 he made his first appearance at the London Promenade Concerts as soloist with the BBC Phil, of Manchester. His recital engagements have taken him to London, Munich, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, N.Y., and Washington, D.C. In 1998 he received the Gilmore Award. In his performances, Andsnes has demonstrated a musicianship of the highest attainment in a repertoire extending from Haydn to contemporary composers.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire