Leif Ove Andsnes presents music by Norwegian composer Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) on his Simax Classics recording of Sonata No. 29 ‘Sonata etere‘, Folk Tunes and Songs, partnering for the first time with his sister, singer Solveig Andsnes. Geirr Tveitt Sonata No. 29, Folk Tunes and Songs Leif Ove Andsnes, piano Solveig Andsnes, vocals (in Songs) Simax Classics Catalogue number: PSC1418 (CD & Digital) / PSLP1418 (LP) EAN: 7033662014187 / 7033661014188 Album Release Date: April 24, 2026 In 1970, a devastating fire destroyed Geirr Tveitt’s house and an estimated 300 compositions burnt to ashes. Roughly 80% of his oeuvre was lost forever, including all but one of his sonatas – Sonata No. 29 ‘Sonata etere’.In Leif Ove Andsnes’ words, the ‘Sonata etere’ “is a gigantic piece of music built on two simple melodies with many variations. It is a tough piece to play, but very rewarding. With Russian rhythmic influences combined with touches of French music and folk music, Tveitt really is in a world all his own. It is fantastically colourful in its writing for the instrument, full of tension in its architecture, harmony, and rhythm.”  © Helge Hansen It was a bold move when Andsnes decided to programme Tveitt’s ‘Sonate etere’ in 35 concerts across Europe and North America during 2024 and 2025. As he says, it is “the most ambitious solo piano piece by any Norwegian composer.” Bold or not, audiences around the world embraced his performance of the sonata, with The New York Times hailing it one of the “Best Classical Performances of 2025.”This dedicated Tveitt album also includes a selection of solo piano pieces from Femti folkatonar fråo Hardanger (Fifty Folk Tunes from Hardanger) and Songs, in which the composer fuses folk elements with modernist harmonic language, set to poetry by leading Norwegian poets of Tveitt’s time.“This project was a unique opportunity for me to collaborate with my sister Solveig, who normally works in different types of music to me. She has done a lot of musicals and jazz and I thought her voice and her way of approaching texts would work so well in Tveitt’s Songs. And it does!”  Leif Ove and Solveig Andsnes TRACKLIST Sonata No. 29, Op. 129 ‘Sonata etere’ 1. I. In cerca di – Moderato 2. II. Tono etereo in variazioni – Tranquillo ma deciso 3. III. Tempo di pulsazione Fifty Folk Tunes from Hardanger, Op. 150 (Selection) 4. No. 25: The Call of the Dairy Maid / Budeio lokkar 5. No. 39: Visiting Saturday in the Mountains / Gjisnar-helg 6. No. 10: What Beer! / Noko tel øl! 7. No. 41: Stave Church-chant / Stavkyrkjestev 8. No. 19: Fare Thee Well / Siste far-vel 9. No. 6: Welcome in the Bridal Farm / Velkomen i brudlaupsgaren 10. No. 27: Langeleik Tune / Langeleik-låt 11. No. 49: Consecration of the New Beer / Upskoka 12. No. 2: Flute Sound / Flyte-ljod 13. No. 11: God’s Goodness and God’s Greatness / Guds godhet og guds storhet Songs 14. We Shall Not Sleep Away the Summer Night / Vi skal ikkje sova burt sumarnatta (Aslaug Låstad Lygre) 15. Northern Light / Nordlysun (Aslaug Vaa) 16. Carrying Grief / Bera ei sorg (Aslaug Låstad Lygre) 17. Softly the Oars Cut / Mjukt skjer åra (Aslaug Låstad Lygre) 18. The Dreary Room / Det stusslege romet (Aslaug Vaa) 19. Answer Me, My Harp / Svara meg, mi harpe (Aslaug Vaa) 20. Evening in the Inlet / Kveld i sundet (Aslaug Låstad Lygre) 21. March Evening / Marskveld (Aslaug Vaa) 22. Broken Grain / Knust korn (Jan-Magnus Bruheim) |
Leif Ove Andsnes releases new album on Simax dedicated to Geirr Tveitt.
