Leif Ove Andsnes will bring contemporary classical to Memorial Hall

To most, classical music doesn’t mean excitement.

But that’s exactly what world-renowned pianist Leif Ove Andsnes is trying to change.

The eight-time Grammy nominee — who will play Friday in Memorial Hall — is known for his experimental projects and engaging concerts.

“One of the things I think he’s trying to do is bring in a whole new generation of connoisseurs of classical music,” said John Benton, choral and orchestra director at McDougle Middle School. He also wrote the program for the concert.

“A lot of people are trying to reinvent the old and make it more accessible,” he said.

Ove Andsnes’ last visit to Chapel Hill was in 2009, when he was on tour with Berlin-based visual artist Robin Rhode with the show “Pictures Reframed.”

The show was a collaborative performance of Russian composer Mussorgsky’s piano suite “Pictures at an Exhibition,” where Ove Andsnes played on a special stage set, surrounded by videos of Rhodes’ work.

That was not the first time Ove Andsnes has used visual scenes in conjunction with his music. Benton said in one of Ove Andsnes’ video performances in Norway, he had a helicopter bring a piano to the top of a mountain.

“He’s always pushing the boundaries in what he does to spark other people’s interests,” Benton said.

While this concert will feature more standard fare — the classical works of Haydn, romantic pieces from Chopin, impressionistic songs from Debussy and more modern, folk-music-inspired work from Bartok — it will not be a simple show.

Benton said Ove Andsnes’ repertoire is poetic but also technically challenging.

“It really goes to show how versatile a performer he is, to cover all of these in one sitting,” he said.

Chancellor Emeritus James Moeser will lead a pre-performance discussion about the works Ove Andsnes will play.

Moeser said Friday’s concert puts Ove Andsnes in a more traditional setting with varied pieces.

He said since people will be more familiar with Chopin and Haydn, he will focus on the works of Bartok and Debussy in his discussion.

Stefan Litwin, a music professor specializing in contemporary classical music, said he has heard praise for Ove Andsnes from his colleagues.

“He’s an extraordinarily intelligent player and a powerful pianist,” he said. “He’s one of the great younger pianists around, no doubt.”

Moeser said the concert is important not only because of the music, but also because of Ove Andsnes’ virtuosity.

“Excellence of this kind is an extraordinary opportunity,” he said.

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.