Schubert: Piano Sonata D.959 & Minuets D. 334, D. 335, D. 600

Concert performances by Arcadi Volodos are always perceived as extraordinary events. Studio recordings, which for him represent the artistic sum of his engagement with the respective works, are as well - but they are much rarer. Barely three years after his highly acclaimed recording of late piano works by Johannes Brahms and seventeen years after the Russian pianist, who has long lived in Spain, first tackled Franz Schubert on record, he now presents his interpretation of the A major Sonata D 959 on Sony Classical. Arcadi Volodos has played the sonata in concert many times in recent years and has been celebrated by the public and the press. For example, the Wiener Standard wrote after a recital, "When Arcadi Volodos plays Schubert, time stands still." But with the recording in the studio, his occupation with this composition is complete. So if you want to hear Arcadi Volodos play Schubert's A major Sonata, you can't avoid this album. 

Volodos rose to become a much sought-after performer after his spectacular breakthrough in 1996. "Crown prince of the piano" and "heir to the great Vladimir Horowitz," some raved. The debut album "Piano Transcriptions" and the legendary recital recording "Live at Carnegie Hall," like almost all other recordings, won awards worldwide. Performances with orchestras ranging from the Berlin Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orkest Amsterdam to major orchestras in London, New York and Boston established his reputation as one of the definitive pianists of his generation.