Leif Ove Andsnes
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Cultural Centre Concert Hall
Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes is one of the foremost classical musicians today, and his Arts Festival concert on Friday proved this.
Andsnes does not rely on vulgar gestures or showy passion to draw crowds. It is rather his delicate touch, crystalline tone and sincere poetry that make his performance immensely enjoyable.
Andsnes performed for about half the concert, as both soloist and conductor in two concertos: Haydn's No11 and Mozart's No17. He coped with the venue's poor acoustics to bring out the glittering phrases and witty turns in Haydn's work. His textural clarity and scintillating fast runs were refreshing, and he could make the piano sound intimate even in the most demanding passages.