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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department Encore Series will present a piano recital by Leif Ove Andsnes, who has been acclaimed as the "the most accomplished pianist of the new generation" by The New York Times.
In the concert in early November, Andsnes will perform classical masterpieces including Janacek's "In the Mists", Schubert's "Sonata in C minor, D958", Debussy's "Five Preludes", and Beethoven's "Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, 'Moonlight'".
The Norwegian pianist has performed regularly in the world's most famous concert halls since he first attracted international attention in the early 1990s. Around the same time he started recording exclusively for EMI Classics. Over the years, he has won three Gramophone Awards, two Classical Brits and numerous Grammy nominations. Andsnes gave seven solo and collaborative performances at Carnegie Hall in the 2004/05 season as the youngest artist ever presented in Carnegie Hall's "Perspectives" series.
Andsnes has played solo recitals and duets as well as concertos with leading orchestras throughout each season. He is also an avid chamber musician and a director of the RisČūr Chamber Music Festival of Norway. He has received the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award, the Gilmore Artist Award and was made a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 2002. Last year, he received the prestigious Peer Gynt Prize, awarded by members of the Norwegian parliament to honour personalities from Norway for their achievements in politics, sports and culture. He also became a professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo in 2007, deciding that it was his turn to pass on musical advice and encouragement to the next generation of pianists.
"Piano Recital by Leif Ove Andsnes" will be held at 8pm on November 5 (Wednesday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $420, $320, $220 and $120 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
For each purchase of standard tickets for this concert and another Encore Series concert "Home for Christmas - Anne Sofie von Otter and Her Merry Swedish Gentlemen" (December 8, Hong Kong Cultural Centre), patrons can enjoy a 10% discount.
For ticketing enquiries and reservations call 2734 9009; for programme enquiries, call 2268 7321. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
A pre-concert talk "A Music Tour around Europe with Lief Ove Andsnes" (in Cantonese) hosted by pianist and music educator Norman Lee will be held at 7.30pm on October 31 (Friday) in Room AC1, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ends/Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:37
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