Leif Ove Andsnes
Biography
Born in Norway in 1970, Leif Ove Andsnes has enjoyed a career spanning 20 years, performing at all the major concert halls with the world's leading orchestras.
He is famous for playing just about everything: Brahms, Grieg, Janacek, Britten - and has won awards performing all four composers.
He gave his first professional concert at the age of 17, but his big break came in 1989, with a successful US debut which led to concerts in Canada and Edinburgh with the Oslo Phil under Mariss Jansons. His 1992 Proms debut received fabulous reviews and he's now a regularly performer there.
In May 2002, Andsnes was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav, Norway's highest award. A staunch chamber music player, Leif is co-artistic director of the Risor Chamber Music Festival in Norway.
Music
In 1987 Andsnes won the Hindemith Prize, in 1988 he was awarded the Norwegian Music Critics Prize, he picked up the Grieg Prize in 1990, the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 1997, Royal Philharmonic Society Award in 2000, and the Gramophone Awards – Instrumental Award in 2002 for Grieg's 'Lyric Pieces'.
He is also a renowned chamber musician and holds the position of Artistic Director at the Risør Festival of Chamber Music. He records for EMI and Virgin.
Discography
2007 - Ballad for Edvard Grieg
Schubert: Piano Sonata D958
2006 - Horizons
2005 - Bartók: The Piano Concertos
Schubert: Piano Sonata D960 • 3 Lieder
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
