Volodos Live at Carnegie Hall (APE)

Performer: Arcadi Volodos
Composer: Franz Liszt, Alexander Scriabin, Sergey Rachmaninov, Robert Schumann
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Sony
Size: 192 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Hungarian Rhapsody, for piano No. 15 in A minor (Rákóczi-Marsch III), S. 244/15 (LW A132/15)
Composed by Franz Liszt
with Arcadi Volodos

# Enigme, for piano, Op. 52/2
Composed by Alexander Scriabin
with Arcadi Volodos

# Caresse dansée, for piano, Op. 57/2
Composed by Alexander Scriabin
with Arcadi Volodos

# Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major (“Trill”), Op. 70
Composed by Alexander Scriabin
with Arcadi Volodos

# Pieces (3) for piano, TN ii/19 Fragments
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Arcadi Volodos

# Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39 No. 8 in D Minor
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Arcadi Volodos

# Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33 No. 3 in C Minor
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Arcadi Volodos

# Bunte Blätter (14) (Colored Leaves) for piano, Op. 99 Drei Stücklein: No. 1
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Arcadi Volodos

# Wedding March & Dance of the Elves, transcription for piano (after Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night’s Dream), S. 410 (LW A166) Variations on Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”
Composed by Franz Liszt
with Arcadi Volodos

# Prelude for piano in B major, Op. 2/2 No. 2, Prélude in B major
Composed by Alexander Scriabin
with Arcadi Volodos

This is a recording for those who want it all in a piano performance: flawless technical control, clarity, grandeur of concept, sensitivity, tonal beauty and contrast, all expressed in a repertoire that is interesting and varied. For decades, Horowitz represented the ultimate in the performance of the 15th Hungarian Rhapsody, but Volodos captures its rhythmic vitality, drive and the dynamic contrasts with such ease that the performance surpasses the previous mark. While consuming in its brilliance, it is devoid of meretricious showmanship. His Scriabin is incandescent with unparalleled flexibility, dynamic and tonal control, and a pervasive lyricism. The Rachmaninov “Enigme” and “Etudes-Tableau” are expressive beyond words. It seems as if one is hearing these works for the first time with a tonal beauty and dynamic range unmatched by any other pianist. Even the Schumann, never a favorite of mine, became sympathetic and convincing in his hands. To describe this recording as “extraordinary” is to grossly understate the fact.