Geirr Tveitt - Piano Sonata No. 29 Op. 129 "Sonata Etere"; Songs (Solveig Andsnes - voice).

Premiere album, released on April 24th, 2026

Leif Ove Andsnes, a luminary in the musical world, renowned for his definitive interpretations of piano concertos belonging to Edvard Grieg, Serghei Rahmaninov, Ludwig van Beethoven, and described as "a pianist of masterly elegance, power and depth" by New York Times, offers his admirers a new album dedicated to the music of a compatriot - the Norwegian composer Geirr Tveitt, a significant figure associated with the nationalist movement as far back as the 1930s. Shaped in Leipzig and then in Paris with the help of Arthur Honneger and Heitor Vila Lobos and then in Vienna with Egon Wellsz's help, a disciple of Schoenberg, Geirr Tveitt emanates an eclectic air by incorporating all these influences into his style. Once the war had ended, he traveled across all of Europe, often presenting his works in concerts. He was also a brilliant pianist, shaped by Nadia Boulanger. Unfortunately, a 1970 fire destroyed 80 percent of his work, thus significantly diminishing a compositional profile relevant to the Norwegian culture.

Through his approach, Leif Ove Andsnes brings back to our attention one of the most elaborated piano works composed by Geirr Tviett - Sonata No. 29 Op. 129, alongside several songs in a folklore-inspired style - a great source of inspiration for Geirr Tveitt, as well as some songs recorded by Solveig Andsnes, the Norwegian pianist's sister, who is known in a different musical field as a jazz and musical theatre vocalist. Andsnes Siblings' album was released on April 24th under the Simax Classics record label.

Sonata etere, the only work that survived the fire, was created at the beginning of the 1950s and has only two main themes - In Cerca Di and Tono Etereo, entailing a very ambitious undertaking, according to pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. "Building an entire sonata starting solely from these two themes, reminiscent of folk melodies and developed in an epic style evokes Russian music, Serghei Prokofiev, especially in terms of the rhythmic tension, additionally, French music influences are present as well". Leif Ove Andsnes declares that he approached this score with great autonomy given by the improvisatory and cosmic character of the sonata. We can certainly recognize the impressive pianistic skill, his ability to build a customized discourse using well-defined, distinct colors as well as his dazzling virtuosity. He has performed Geirr Tveitt's Sonata etere No. 29 Op. 129 in 35 recitals up until now, from Barcelona to Baltimore, and now releasing it on disc too, in an elaborate presentation. Included we can find an extensive interview that the Norwegian pianist offers with this occasion, alongside countless photos taken during the recording sessions at St Jude-on-the-Hill church in London, as well as Leif Ove Andsnes strolling through the Norwegian woods, paying a visit to the Norwegian creator's daughter who rebuilt the family farm.

The album dedicated to Geirr Tveitt ends with a few songs composed to the verses belonging to Norwegian poets, performed by Solvieg Andsnes, accompanied on the piano by her brother, Leif Ove Andsnes - a total unique choice, giving the fact that Solvieg Andsnes is primarily known in the realm of jazz. Her voice holds a natural quality, highlighting the authentic and innate character of music. The collaboration between the two siblings represents a rare occasion, Leif Ove Andsnes believing that her manner of approaching this repertoire is highly fitting - something that you can also notice when listening to these lyrical songs by Geirr Tveitt.