"Mozart Momentum er en milepæl i Andsnes’ stadig mer imponerende kunstnerskap". Aftenposten (5 av 6) "Full of joy, clarity and sparkle" The Times (5 stars) “A remarkable achievement” Gramophone Magazine “It’s seriously beautiful music making and a highly effective reflection of a key year in Mozart’s piano writing." BBC Radio "Andsnes' playing can be called an event […] crystal-clear. Great!" Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany “the pianist succeeds in achieving the golden ratio between symphonic expansion and chamber music introversion” Fono Forum, Germany The first chapter of an exciting new recording project. The portrait of a master composer at the top of his game. Exploring two of the most remarkable, creative and game-changing years in music history: 1785 & 1786. Album nr. 1: 1785 Piano Concerto No. 20 K 466 Piano Concerto No. 21 K 467 Piano Concerto No. 22 K 482 Masonic Funeral Music Fantasia for Piano in C minor Quartet in G minor for Piano and Strings Album nr. 2: 1786 - to be released (date TBA)  Info TBA   “When you realize how quickly Mozart developed during the early years of the 1780’s it makes you ask: why did this happen? What was going on? It’s about the momentum of his creativity at this time” says Leif Ove Andsnes In 1781, aged 25, Mozart made the bold move of going freelance, “Vienna is piano land!” he exclaimed in a letter to his father, Leopold, in an attempt to argue his case for resigning from the employment of the Archbishop of Salzburg. With both public and private concerts taking place on a daily basis, Vienna was the place to be for an ambitious young composer and performer, and Mozart was quick to realize the opportunities on offer. Within a couple of years he had established himself as one of the most famous musicians in Vienna but by 1785 he had competition on his doorstep. As more and more talented composers and musicians arrived in the city, freelancers like Mozart had to become ever more inventive to distinguish themselves and win over the public’s affection. It was in these two years - 1785 and 1786 - that Mozart’s musical imagination flourished like never before.  Mozart wrote a series of masterpieces and revolutionized the nature of the piano concerto. The five piano concertos, no.20-24, are game-changers in the history of the form. Mozart began to re-examine the roles of the soloist and orchestra and created a dialogue between the two entities in a way that had not been heard before.  “It changes completely with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 20 [in D minor K466],” says Andsnes.  “ He separates the soloist more from the orchestra. The first entrance of the soloist in this piece is very different music from what you have heard the orchestra present. This is the moment, which points to the future and the development of the piano concerto and of the beginning of the Romantic piano concerto, which is so beloved. Everything from Tchaikovsky, Grieg and Rachmaninov, where the soloist has a sort of “heroic” role. It...