Volodos Plays Liszt (2007)

A brilliantly played, superbly selected, and wonderfully recorded recital, Arcadi Volodos' first disc devoted entirely to the solo piano music of Liszt is a complete success. Although Liszt wrote some of the most difficult piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is included here, Volodos sails over any problems without deigning to notice them. The blazing double octaves, the blistering scales, the glittering tremolos, the sparkling sonorities, the giddy tempos: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him. ... Read More

A brilliantly played, superbly selected, and wonderfully recorded recital, Arcadi Volodos' first disc devoted entirely to the solo piano music of Liszt is a complete success. Although Liszt wrote some of the most difficult piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is included here, Volodos sails over any problems without deigning to notice them. The blazing double octaves, the blistering scales, the glittering tremolos, the sparkling sonorities, the giddy tempos: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him. And although Liszt also wrote some of the most deliberately ostentatious piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is also included here, Volodos rides over any questionable moments without bothering to credit them. The crashing crescendos, the hushed pianissimos, the careening rhythms, the monstrous chords: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him -- thankfully, sparing him and us from the composer's own worst excesses. Recorded in palpably present sound by producer... Read Less