At the end of 2019 these outstanding artists present a birthday present to the composer that will last for a long time: an album with three premiere recordings of his works! Powerful orchestral music from one of profiles among composers today - perhaps with the piano concerto written for Leif Ove Andsnes as the icing on the cake! Andsnes describes his fascination with Hvoslef: "It's fascinating how Ketil manages to create such a strong tension and story-telling - at the same time as being so transparent. His tonal language is so clear. The same applies to his attitude to "less is more" - I have seen that through all the revisions of the piano concerto. I also think that his music is filled with a classical clarity: an underlying tension that I think is fascinating. It is something I can't put into words. I think it's very apparent in the piano concerto's last movement, which smolders with many different tensions that all appear, telling different stories. That's something that has fascinated me right from the start." Hvoslef is equally clear when describing Andsnes as an interpreter of his music: "He is so clear and plays so precisely. And my music is dependent on extreme precision. It is almost manic - and I can't do anything about that. So I could never have found anyone better than him to play it! He understands how necessary precision is. That perhaps sounds prosaic to others, but for me it means a great deal."

Tracklist:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra: I
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra: II
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra: III
Ein Traumspiel
Barabbas - Opera Without Singers: Act I - The Jail
Barabbas - Opera Without Singers: Act II - Near Pilate’s Palace
Barabbas - Opera Without Singers: Act III - In The Shadow Of Calvary

UPC: 7033662013753
Label: Simax Classics
Release Date: 8.7.20
Format: CD

LEIF OVE ANDSNES - Piano Concerto / Ein Traumspiel (CD)