Leif Ove Andsnes, Archive foto: Henning Høholt (Paris 2013)

Pianoforte recital  Leif Ove Andsnes

Florence, Italy. Teatro della Pergola. 2014 march 29th

LUDWIG VAN  BEETHOVEN
Sonata n. 11 in si bemolle maggiore op
. 22
Sonata n. 28 in la maggiore op 101
Sei Variazioni in fa maggiore op
. 34
Sonata n
. 23 in fa minore op. 57 “Appassionata”

Review by Fabio Bardelli. Foto: Henning Høholt.

FIRENZE/ITALY: The Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes comes back to Florence with three Beethoven’s Sonatas, two of which are particularly famous and beloved by the audience worldwide, Nr. 28 opus 101 and Nr. 23 opus 74, known as “Appassionata”. The artist is even dedicating some years of his pianistic career almost exclusively to Beethoven in a sort of “Beethoven Journey”. 

–
Andsnes displays all the charm of his artistry in this beautiful concert in Florence: even if he’s still a young man, he’s artistically mature, shows a very good technique, a very nice touch specially in the range between piano and mezzoforte His melodic line (speaking of the slow movements in the sonatas) is always accurate, and the accompaniment by the left hand is really appreciable and always present to underline every wrinkling in harmonies.

–

More that pointing out the differences among compositions written in different periods of Beethoven’s life, Andsnes seems to have a global view of the composer’s music, that he rends with elegance and balance. So his way to play the various pieces is unitary and coherent, even if unfortunately the various pages aren’t played in a chronological sequence.

–

Surely the best interpretations in this concert were Sonata Nr. 28 and even more the Sonata Nr. 23 “Appassionata”, which was played by Leif Ove Andsnes showing all the Romantic essence in it, alternating most intimate and delicate moments, played in a very seductive way, with others performed more impetuously, where the “Sturm und Drang” is really evident. It was really a splendid rendition of a beautiful Beethoven‘s Sonata that Mr
. Andsnes probably feels very much.

The Florentine audience appreciated the concert with enthusiastic applause, and a real triumph after “Appassionata”. As thank you to the public, Andsnes played also two encores

.

Fabio Bardelli
translation from italian Bruno Tredicine