Well, just one more email on Leif Ove Andsnes, because this one, as even K-Lo will admit, is simply irresistible:

Dear Peter,
It is gratifying that you have dozens of us capable Norskies reading National Review. The musician’s first name brings up an issue hardly obscure to us, but likely trivial to the extreme for you. Beyond the regional accents and spellings, Norway actually has two major forms of its language. The [first pronunciation]…you posted in the corner is from the form that was heavily influenced by the Danish rule of Norway for centuries after the Black Death crippled the Norwegian nobility. The version that rhymes with safe is from the version that attempts to restore the original language of the country before the centuries of Danish (and Swedish) domination. Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, would pronounce Leif as rhyming with safe.
The language form influenced by the Danes is actually farther away from what ancient Danes (also speakers of Old Norse) used as well, since the more modern Danish has been heavily influenced by German. There is a language schism in Norway, with the elderly still hanging on to the Danish-influenced variant the strongest. In this country, the version of Norwegian used largely is a function of what part of Norway one’s ancestors came from and what era they emigrated from Norway. Again, either pronunciation is acceptable, but hard core traditionalists have a definite preference. In Norway today, students are taught differing versions of the language, depending on where they live.
It is ironic that while I am ancient Norwegian in most of my lineage, I am intensely proud of my lines coming in from Denmark and still insistent on not using the form of the language so heavily influenced by those notable antecedents. I must close by thanking you for being thoughtful enough to be concerned over the proper pronunciation of a Norwegian’s name.