Oslo Philharmonic / Leif Ove Andsnes / Klaus Mäkelä

Leif Ove Andsnes

The 24 preludes completed by Chopin during the notorious winter he spent on Mallorca with his lover George Sand, are some of the most demanding pieces a pianist can tackle. The range is enormous, from small and short simple pieces to brutal outbursts and virtuosic explosions. The famous Raindrop Prelude No. 15 is said to be inspired by the perpetual raining on the island.Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes, one of the world's most acclaimed pianists, begins his recital with his compatriot Edvard Grieg's piano sonata, written three years before the famous piano concerto. And there are similarities: romantically flowing melodies and glimpses of Norwegian folk music. Grieg has also, like Bach and Shostakovich, embedded himself in the music: the first three notes are e, h, g – the initials of his name Edvard Hagerup Grieg.Between Grieg and Chopin, Andsnes performs music by another compatriot, Geirr Tveitt (1908–81). He was a concert pianist himself, and his both powerful and sometimes meditative music is often inspired by folk music from Hardanger Valley.

Daniel Harding & Leif Ove Andsnes

Daniel Harding will perform Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto together with Leif Ove Andsnes. Composed in 1809 during the Napoleonic occupation of Vienna, its expansive structure exudes a longing for peace and humanity. Instead of the planned Sinfonia domestica, the second part features two of Richard Strauss’ most popular tone poems, Death and Transfiguration and Don Juan, with which the young composer finally embarked on the path to becoming a “musician of the future”. Strauss established his fame as the leading opera composer of his time a few years later with Salome. The culmination of this ground-breaking work is Salome’s lascivious Dance of the Seven Veils – a dramaturgical and tonal fascination to this day.

Daniel Harding & Leif Ove Andsnes

Daniel Harding will perform Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto together with Leif Ove Andsnes. Composed in 1809 during the Napoleonic occupation of Vienna, its expansive structure exudes a longing for peace and humanity. Instead of the planned Sinfonia domestica, the second part features two of Richard Strauss’ most popular tone poems, Death and Transfiguration and Don Juan, with which the young composer finally embarked on the path to becoming a “musician of the future”. Strauss established his fame as the leading opera composer of his time a few years later with Salome. The culmination of this ground-breaking work is Salome’s lascivious Dance of the Seven Veils – a dramaturgical and tonal fascination to this day.

Daniel Harding & Leif Ove Andsnes

Daniel Harding will perform Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto together with Leif Ove Andsnes. Composed in 1809 during the Napoleonic occupation of Vienna, its expansive structure exudes a longing for peace and humanity. Instead of the planned Sinfonia domestica, the second part features two of Richard Strauss’ most popular tone poems, Death and Transfiguration and Don Juan, with which the young composer finally embarked on the path to becoming a “musician of the future”. Strauss established his fame as the leading opera composer of his time a few years later with Salome. The culmination of this ground-breaking work is Salome’s lascivious Dance of the Seven Veils – a dramaturgical and tonal fascination to this day.

Oslo Philharmonic / Vilde Frang / Klaus Mäkelä

Both Klaus Mäkelä and Vilde Frang launched their international careers with the Oslo Philharmonic. The charismatic Finn was appointed chief conductor of the orchestra at the age of 22 and violinist Frang performed as a soloist in her native Oslo at the early age of twelve. Now they join forces in Hamburg to play Igor Stravinsky’s lively violin concerto. This is followed after the interval by Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. The two pieces could not be more different. Stravinsky’s neoclassical concerto sparkles with humour and joy – it is often seen as a parody of the genre. Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, on the other hand, deals with life’s great topics. As in the Beethoven, fate descends on listeners with a powerful fanfare at the very beginning. Tchaikovsky did not deny the parallels with his great idol and his »Fate Symphony«: »Basically, my symphony is an imitation of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.«

Herbert Blomstedt and Leif Ove Andsnes

Herbert Blomstedt sees Anton Bruckner as “the greatest symphonist since Beethoven”. The conductor is recognised worldwide as an authority on this music, acclaimed for his affinity to Bruckner’s distinctive, darkly-glowing tonal language and its powerful climaxes. Herbert Blomstedt now addresses the composer’s last symphony, in which Bruckner bids a very personal farewell to the world. In the concert’s first half, Leif Ove Andsnes is the soloist in Mozart’s festive Piano Concerto No. 21.

Herbert Blomstedt and Leif Ove Andsnes

Herbert Blomstedt sees Anton Bruckner as “the greatest symphonist since Beethoven”. The conductor is recognised worldwide as an authority on this music, acclaimed for his affinity to Bruckner’s distinctive, darkly-glowing tonal language and its powerful climaxes. Herbert Blomstedt now addresses the composer’s last symphony, in which Bruckner bids a very personal farewell to the world. In the concert’s first half, Leif Ove Andsnes is the soloist in Mozart’s festive Piano Concerto No. 21.

Herbert Blomstedt and Leif Ove Andsnes

Herbert Blomstedt sees Anton Bruckner as “the greatest symphonist since Beethoven”. The conductor is recognised worldwide as an authority on this music, acclaimed for his affinity to Bruckner’s distinctive, darkly-glowing tonal language and its powerful climaxes. Herbert Blomstedt now addresses the composer’s last symphony, in which Bruckner bids a very personal farewell to the world. In the concert’s first half, Leif Ove Andsnes is the soloist in Mozart’s festive Piano Concerto No. 21.

Watch This Space | Leif Ove Andsnes & friends

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Leif Ove Andsnes / Alan Gilbert

Is it just a cliché to assume that French music is particularly sophisticated? Or is there more than just a grain of truth in it? An exciting question. Alan Gilbert and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra explore this question when they take a trip to France with Leif Ove Andsnes as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival. With three visionary works that rarely find their way into the concert hall and illuminate the festival motto »Future« in a unique way.