Echoes from the past: the Norwegian CO

By Alexander Hall, 18 March 2017

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“a heart-warming display”

Reviewed at Cadogan Hall, London on 17 March 2017

Prokofiev, Symphony no. 1 in D major "Classical", Op.25

Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor, K466

Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 22 in E flat major, K482

Grieg, Holberg Suite, Op.40

Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

Leif Ove Andsnes, Piano

Musical resilience from Kuusisto and Barruk at the BBC Proms

Nick Boston, 31st August

An eclectic programme including evocative Sámi joiks from and powerful Shostakovich performed from memory by the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

****1

L'isola disabitata: Not so deserted after all

Aksel Tollåli, 18th August

When one thinks of Haydn, opera really isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. It’s the symphonies, the string quartets, even his oratorios you think of first, not his operas. And yet he wrote 15 of them. L’isola disabitata is the eleventh of the bunch, written for the Eszterházy court in 1779, and it was this opera The Norwegian Opera and Ballet (DNO) chose as their 2012/2013 season opener.

****1

Le Norwegian Chamber Orchestra secoue la Genève endormie…

Thomas Muller, 10th March

Leif Ove Andsnes offre à Genève deux concertos de Mozart très équilibrés qui ont succédé à une Suite Holberg de Grieg contrastée et palpitante. Le style énergique du Norwegian Chamber Orchestra a emporté l’adhésion du public genevois visiblement ravi par tant de jeunesse !

***11

Leif Ove Andsnes reveals the richness of small-scale forms

Edward Sava-Segal, 27th January

The Norwegian pianist assembles an intricate selection of fragments, aphorisms and character pieces for an intriguing New York recital.

****1

Resplendent Strauss from Canellakis and the Wiener Symphoniker

Mark Pullinger, 17th December

Leif Ove Andsnes joins the Vienna Symphony in the Musikverein's Golden Hall for a glowing account of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto before a terrific Tod und Verklärung.

*****

A spectacular swansong for the Rosendal Chamber Music Festival

Nick Boston, 10th August

A fitting farewell for Leif Ove Andsnes' Rosendal Chamber Music Festival: imaginative programming and excellent performances in an inspiring setting.

*****

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.

Echoes from the past: the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and Leif Ove Andsnes at Cadogan Hall