This season Leif Ove has been focusing on repertoire less often played, championing them wherever possible around the world. These works include Rachmanionv’s Fourth Piano Concerto, Britten’s Piano Concerto and, most recently Debussy’s Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra, which he performed with the London Philharmonic and Vladimir Jurowski in London last week. BBC Radio 3 broadcast the concert live and the performance is now available on the BBC i-player to listen to for a further 3 weeks.
Reviewing the London performance Classicalsource.com commented “Debussy was less than pleased with his Fantaisie (1890), cancelling the premiere during rehearsals and, although tinkering on and off, not allowing publication or performances during his lifetime. It only reached a concert in 1919, in London, with Alfred Cortot, a year after Debussy’s death. One can understand his reluctance to have it aired as it has few of his traits. But it is attractive (in part), and Leif Ove Andsnes did the revisions published in 1968 proud, playing with an insouciant ‘first among equals’ touch, impeccable technique and bags of personality.”
Leif Ove will perform the work again in the USA on 26 and 28 April as