Passion, individuality and extremes: Arcadi Volodos in recital

By Nick Boston, 29 October 2014

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Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 28 October 2014

Schubert, Piano Sonata no. 2 in C major, D.279

Schubert, Fragments of Allegretto in C major, D.346

Brahms, 6 Piano Pieces, Op.118

Schumann, Kinderszenen, Op.15

Schumann, Fantasie in C major, Op.17

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

Volodos takes his listeners to the edge of the abyss

Alexander Hall, 14th December

Arcadi Volodos displays consummate artistry in Schubert's last piano sonata and two other keyboard pieces by Brahms.

*****

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

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: un gran sabio del piano actual

Leonardo Mattana Ereño, 4th June

Arcadi Volodos ofreció un recital inconmensurable desde la sencillez y familiaridad que dan la madurez de un pianista técnicamente brillante y de una gran sensibilidad.

*****

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Nick Boston

Nick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here.