Speakeysie News Desk

“A master of Apollonian restraint and impeccable technique.”—The New Yorker

UGA Presents welcomes internationally acclaimed pianist Leif Ove Andsnes to Hodgson Concert Hall for the first time Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. for an evening that showcases the expressive depth, intellectual rigor, and poetic imagination of the solo piano repertoire. 

Widely regarded as one of the great pianists of our time, Andsnes brings to Athens a thoughtfully curated program that spans Romantic masterworks and modern miniatures. The evening opens with Robert Schumann’s Klavierstücke,followed by selections from György Kurtág’s Játékok, a series of aphoristic piano pieces that explore sound with childlike curiosity and concentrated emotional power.

After intermission, Andsnes performs Leoš Janáček’s On an Overgrown Path, Book I, a deeply personal cycle inspired by memory, language, and loss, before concluding with Schumann’s beloved Carnaval, a dazzling gallery of musical character portraits and masked-ball fantasy.

The New York Times has praised Andsnes as “a pianist of magisterial elegance, power, and insight,” while theWall Street Journal calls him “one of the most gifted musicians of his generation.” Known for performances that combine technical command with profound musical understanding, Andsnes appears regularly in the world’s major concert halls and with leading orchestras, while maintaining an acclaimed career as a recording artist.

Andsnes’s extensive discography — spanning Baroque to contemporary repertoire — has earned eleven Grammy nominations, seven Gramophone Awards, and numerous international honors. In 2024, the UK’s Classic FM named him one of the top 25 pianists of all time.

In addition to his solo career, Andsnes is a devoted chamber musician and artistic leader. He is the founding director of Norway’s Rosendal Chamber Music Festival and has held prominent artistic residencies with institutions including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall. He was inducted into the Gramophone Hall of Fame in 2013 and is the recipient of both the Gilmore Artist Award and the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist Award.

The performance is generously supported by Dr. Janice Simon. It is part of the UGA Presents Nordic Dream series, recognizing voices from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

TICKETS

Securing tickets for these UGA Presents performances couldn’t be easier. There are three ways to choose from:

1. Purchase tickets online 24/7 at pac.uga.edu.
2. Call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (706) 542-4400, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
3. Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (5 minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)

You may also create your own series of three or more performances (10% off). UGA Presents single tickets start at just $30 with promo code PAC30 and UGA student tickets are $15. Information about accessibility and venue amenities is available on the PAC website. Parking is free.