Leif Ove Andsnes

Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes was born in Karmøy, Rogaland on April 7, 1970. He studied at the Bergen Music Conservatory under the guidance of the Czech pedagogue Jiri Hlinka and made his concert debut in 1987 in Oslo. He is highly regarded in classical circles and known for his skillful interpretations of the works of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. During his career, Andsnes has won worldwide acclaim, particularly in America. After making his US debut in 1990 with the Cleveland Orchestra, Andsnes has been a regular on the US concert circuit. Andsnes is an accomplished chamber musician and was one of the founders of the Rosendal Chamber Music Festival. He is also an artistic director of the Risør Festival of Chamber Music, a post he has held for almost 20 years and also acted as a music director of California's Ojai Music Festival in 2012. He is a successful recording artist and since his recording debut in 1987 has performed on over 50 albums including Nielsen: The Wind Chamber Music (1989), The Long, Long Winter Night (1998), Grieg: Lyric Pieces (2002), Sibelius (2017), and Mozart Momentum – 1785 (2021), an album that explores one of Mozart’s most revolutionizing, creative and game changing years for piano music.