Volodos takes his listeners to the edge of the abyss

By Alexander Hall, 15 December 2015

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“a bewitching lightness of touch from Volodos, like a gentle breeze caressing the cheeks”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 14 December 2015

Brahms, Theme and Variations in D minor for Piano, Op.18b

Brahms, Klavierstücke Op.76

Schubert, Piano Sonata no. 21 in B flat major, D.960

Schubert, Minuet in C sharp minor, D.600

Mompou, Les jeunes filles au jardin

Lecuona, Suite Andalucía: Malagueña

Brahms, 6 Pieces for Piano: Intermezzo in E flat minor, Op.118 no.6

Arcadi Volodos, Piano

A poet of the keyboard: Arcadi Volodos and the measure of an artist

Asher Rubenstein, 12th December

From Schubert and Schumann to Liszt, Arcadi Volodos makes a triumphant return to London's Barbican.

*****

Technical excellence but muted expressivity: Arcadi Volodos

David Karlin, 7th March

Armed with extraordinary precision, the Russian pianist brings as much elegance to his compatriots Rachmaninov and Scriabin as he does to Schubert.

***11

Full-bodied Brahms and Schubert from Arcadi Volodos

David Karlin, 1st February

Arcadi Volodos is a big man, and when he sits down to the piano, he produces a big sound. The extraordinary richness of timbre was obvious from the first notes of Brahms' 6 Klavierstücke, Op.118.

****1

Passion, individuality and extremes: Arcadi Volodos in recital

Nick Boston, 28th October

Russian pianist Arcadi Volodos held the audience's attention with live performance at its best, at times eccentric, yet totally captivating and always uplifting.

****1

Revelatory Brahms: The Gewandhaus Orchestra at the Barbican

Sam Wigglesworth, 23rd October

For anyone lucky enough to have witnessed the last Barbican residency from Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the striking, thoughtful and vivid accounts of Brahms they gave here should not be a surprise. In Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 2, however, orchestra outdid soloist.

****1

Arcadi Volodos réinventeur de Schubert et Chopin à la Philharmonie

Alain Lompech, 12th May

La Sonate D 894 de Schubert est apparue comme une parenthèse dans l'espace-temps, avant une seconde partie de récital (consacrée à Chopin) qui a parfois surpris par des effets et des choix curieux.

****1

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.