Andsnes and Haydn: A perfect match
CharlesA | 01/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Leif Ove Andsnes, one of the best pianists in the world for the time being, has also become one of the best Haydn interpretors. This album is excellent, especially Piano Sonata No. 32 in C sharp minor. Just relax and enjoy the fantastic 1-hour journey with Leif Ove Andsnes as your guide. He plays with such an ease, and shows yet again that Andsnes and Haydn is a perfect match."
Everything Andsnes touches is gold
CharlesA | London UK | 08/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"your eyes can be opened to an artist's true worth just by hearing one thing they do that bowls you over. Andsnes is one of those rare pianists who has a formidable technique (and a fabulous sense of rhythm) without overwhelming the piano and playing harshly or smashing the keys down. He has a mixture of wonderful technique and pin-point finger velocity. Just listen to the first three tracks on Amazon (which he plays at a spanking presto) he lifts that piece of Haydn out of all time.
Andsnes is not an eccentric pianist, he's wonderfully musical and rewarding. Everything else I have by Andsnes is great especially the Bartok violin and piano sonatas and the janacek piano album on Virgin.
As for Haydn, he's an underrated genius always unfairly overshadowed by Mozart (no slouch he) but Hadyn can hold his own with his warm, human and unbelievably inventive music in every genre.
Relax and enjoy, an album to cherish"