 Grainger first met Grieg at the home of the London financier Sir Edgar Speyer , in May 1906 . As a student Grainger had learned to appreciate the Norwegian 's harmonic originality , and by 1906 had several Grieg pieces in his concert repertoire , including the piano concerto . Grieg was greatly impressed with Grainger 's playing , and wrote that the Australian was " a genius that we Scandinavians cannot do other than love . " During 1906 – 07 the two maintained a mutually complimentary correspondence , which culminated in Grainger 's ten @-@ day visit in July 1907 to the composer 's Norwegian home , " Troldhaugen " near Bergen . Here the two spent much time revising and rehearsing the piano concerto in preparation for that year 's Leeds Festival . Their plans for a long @-@ term working relationship were thwarted by Grieg 's sudden death in September 1907 ; nevertheless , this relatively brief acquaintance had a considerable impact on Grainger , and he championed Grieg 's music for the rest of his life . 
