March 27, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alys Stephens Center presents pianist Leif Ove Andsnes at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S. This show is part of the Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Rushton Haskell Birmingham Music Club Classically Inclined Series. Tickets are $52, $42 and $22; student tickets are $10. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.alysstephens.org.

The New Yorker describes Andsnes as "one of the intimidating few who possess power and personality in equal measure." This kind of critical recognition is nothing new for the Norwegian pianist who last fall opened the seasons of Carnegie Hall, the St. Louis Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. Andsnes also hosts his own chamber music festival in Norway.

Andsnes opened the 2007-08 season with the international release of "Ballad for Edvard Grieg," a recording and DVD release to commemorate the centenary of the death of Norway's most famous composer. Andsnes plays Grieg's stormy Ballade in G minor on both the CD and film. He will perform the work at his Alys Stephens Center recital, as well as at performances in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Copenhagen, Florence, Hamburg, Lisbon, London, Milan, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Zurich, New York, Washington, San Francisco and Seattle.

On the program for his Alys Stephens Center recital: Bach's Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914; Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 "Quasi una fantasia"; "Kyllikki, Lyric Pieces Op. 41, No. 3" by Sibelius; Grieg's Ballade in G Minor, Op. 24, and Debussy's Preludes: Selections from Books 1 and 2.

This show is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt R. Haskell, Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, Jefferson County Commission, Alabama State Council on the Arts, WBHM, The Birmingham News and Charter Media.