Leif Ove Andsnes - Horizons (2006)

Titled Horizons and subtitled "A Personal Collection of Piano Encores," Leif Ove Andsnes' 2006 release can only make longtime fans of his playing ask three little questions: Andsnes? Encores? Really? A self-confessed "very serious young pianist" who played "only the most important repertoire," Andsnes had heretofore always seemed to be the contemporary pianist least likely to play an encore, much less a whole disc of 22 of them. And yet here it is -- and it is marvelous. Each piece is awe inspiring by itself -- the fragrant sensuality of Strauss' Stänchen, the concentrated spirituality of Bach's Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, the seductive virtuosity of Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3, or the sarcastic hilarity of Shostakovich's Polka -- and even more awe inspiring one after another. Some of them are very well-known -- Debussy's Clair de lune -- and some are virtually unknown -- Charles Trenet's Coin de rue arranged for solo piano by the mysterious Mr. Nobody -- but all of them are played with consummate technical mastery and, what's more amazing, a surprising amount of playful affection. One gets the sense that Andsnes is not only a tremendous virtuoso, but also a heck of a nice guy who can play 22 encores in a row and entertain and edify with every one. EMI's sound is absolutely transparent.