Schubert Volodos

Internationally acclaimed pianist, Arcadi Volodos returns with his sensationally recordings of Schubert’s Piano Sonata D 959 and Minuets D 334, D 335, D 600. This stunning album comes 17 years after Volodos recorded his critically acclaimed interpretations of Schubert’s Piano Sonatas 1 & 18 which was hailed by Gramophone magazine as a “triumphant recording". This release is the only chance to hear his interpretation of Schubert’s mighty piano sonata No. 20 D 959, as he has now retired this work forever from his live programme. To complete the album Volodos lends his unique and spellbinding artistry to 3 short Minuets – that are seldom recorded or performed.

This disc was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for "Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)." Long live the Golden Age! A look at the program and all the hyphenation, Schubert-Liszt, Bach-Feinberg, etc., tells you you're in a bygone era, the Golden Age of pianism when titans straddled the bench and ruled the world from their keyboards.

Fans of Catalonian miniaturist Frederic Mompou are used to looking in out-of-the-way places for his music: small labels, encores of recitals. Yet here he is, presented in full major-label splendor by Sony Classical, with a substantial hard-bound booklet, performed by Russian pianist Arcadi Volodos. It may be that confusing times are good for the reputation of this most inward of composers, but whatever the reason, this recording will introduce a lot of people to Mompou's fascinating world.

The idea behind Carmen Stefanescu's latest double album starts with the piano. The Voice of Piano focuses primarily on the vocal qualities of the instrument. But it is also about the diverse interrelationships between the singing voice, between orchestral or piano song and the piano. This new double CD contains the artist's favorite pieces, almost exclusively song transcriptions of works by composers such as Mahler, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius and Strauss.

The idea behind Carmen Stefanescu's latest double album starts with the piano. The Voice of Piano focuses primarily on the vocal qualities of the instrument. But it is also about the diverse interrelationships between the singing voice, between orchestral or piano song and the piano. This new double CD contains the artist's favorite pieces, almost exclusively song transcriptions of works by composers such as Mahler, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius and Strauss.