SCHUMANN: Piano Sonata No. 1; Fantasy. Lief Ove Andsnes. (EMI Classics) * * * 1/2

Andsnes recently received the 1988 Gilmore Artist Award, and it is easy to understand why. The playing of these two Schumann scores is captivating--clean, bold, full of life and extremely well put together. But the prize has nonetheless generated controversy. The Gilmore, which is awarded by a committee that evaluates pianists without their even knowing they are being considered, is meant as a $300,000 windfall to help an emerging artist build a career.

And Andsnes hardly needs the help or the dough. Though still in his 20s, the Norwegian pianist already has a major career (he appears, for instance, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in January). But if the additional publicity causes collectors to investigate the recordings of a sensational player, all the better. He has given us in the past stunning Grieg and Nielsen, and now his Schumann is just as winning.

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