Andsnes is joined by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra for the new release
Leif Ove Andsnes has released the first volume of his brand new set of works.
'MM 1785', the first volume, explores one of the most creative and seminal periods of Mozart's career. Andsnes leads the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (MCO) from the piano in Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 20-22, and joins members of the orchestra for his Piano Quartet in G minor, and plays his Fantasia in C minor for solo piano.
The full work, 'Mozart Momentum 1785/1786', delves into what is not only a high point of the composer’s career, but one of the most remarkable periods in classical music history.
In 1785 and 1786, Mozart wrote a series of masterpieces that would forever change the piano concerto. He re-examined the roles of the soloist and orchestra, discovering new possibilities for communication and dialogue between them. By showcasing the transformative part Mozart played in the genre’s development, Andsnes and the MCO hope to present a rich portrait of the Classical master at the top of his game.
Andsnes comments: "When you realize how quickly Mozart developed during the early 1780s, it makes you ask: why did this happen? What was going on? And that’s what this project is all about. It’s about the momentum of his creativity at this time, which must have been inspired by the need for this kind of concert and these kinds of pieces where he could show his abilities as a composer, performer and improviser.”
The pianist and the MCO previously worked together on the hit Sony Classical series The Beethoven Journey, named one of the “Best of 2014” by the New York Times and recognized with iTunes’ Best Instrumental Album, Belgium’s Prix Caecilia and BBC Music’s “Recording of the Year.
You can stream the new album on Spotify below.
