For many years, Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes has formed part of the top rank of successful, preeminent pianists; his playing is often associated with the word “elegance”. It sounds refreshingly genuine, free of gimmickry. “Naturalness is a difficult concept. I don’t think it can be simply acquired”, he once said in an interview. Perhaps Andsnes’s natural musicianship is inherited; at any rate, with his timeless style, he is always a step ahead of the crowd. In the course of his career, Andsnes has often taken a breather to explore the legacy of composers who are not as well known for their piano output: Grieg, Sibelius, Carl Nielsen, or, as now, Dvořák. Meanwhile, Beethoven remains a fixture in his programmes: from 2012 to 2015, his “Beethoven Journey” led him and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra through 27 different countries. Leif Ove Andsnes is now returning to the Ruhr Piano Festival for the sixth time.