Piano Works : Leif Ove Andsnes

Swedish pianist Leif Ove Andsnes follows his string of award-winning Beethoven concerto recordings with a new album of solo piano works by Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. Sibelius wrote over 150 works for the piano, but the composer's works for the instrument have long languished in the shadow of his orchestral music. Andsnes scoured Sibelius' entire piano output, carefully selecting the pieces he believes deserve recognition and with which he feels a strong personal connection, uncovering intriguing works with the wonderful Sibelius qualities we know. This new recording includes the composer's own piano arrangement of his famous Valse triste, excerpts from the popular Ten Pieces Op 24 and early Six Impromptus Op 5, as well as the piano score that is often considered Sibelius's finest: the expressive Three Lyric Pieces Op 41 subtitled Kyllikki. An important aspect for Andsnes in compiling the recording was to follow the chronology of the works which span most of Sibelius' career. The pianist sees himself on a mission to present this neglected facet of the Finnish composer.