Arcadi Volodos - Live at Carnegie Hall (1999)

This disc, recorded 'live' in 1998, was Volodos' first recital at the Carnegie Hall. He had been preceded by a growing wave of anticipation which this recital fully answered and justified. The audience is only apparent on the recording with delighted amusement heard distantly at the start the the Wedding March and in tumultuous applause at it's end.
The concert starts with a virtuosic delivery of Horowitz's arrangement of the Liszt Rakoczy March, the 15th Hungarian Rhapsody. This is simply jaw-dropping but also notable for the many light touches included so that the piece transcends a 'simple' technical display. We then enter the very different and mystical world of later Scriabin which enabled Volodos to show his imaginatively flowing and lyrically sensitive touch. Three examples of Rachmaninov followed including two of the fine Etudes tableaux, notable for bringing out the clarity of the orchestral detail and line of the compositions.
Schumann's Bunte Blatter pieces followed and for many they will be a highlight of this disc. These miniature and unrelated pieces grouped together as 'Leaves of Different Colours' were here brought together effortlessly into one unified musical expression of mid-Romantic vision.
At this point the opening of the Liszt, arranged Horowitz, Wedding March commenced as described above. Once more there was the remarkable technical display of power contrasted with astonishing tinkling light finger-work and coupled with a clear sense of humour and fun. After the inevitable outburst of applause came the gentlest of encores - the 51 seconds of an early Scriabin exercise of studied understatement. A totally memorable recital with absolutely everything.
I would suggest that this disc warrants the most serious consideration from any lover of great pianism, Volodos or the program. There really is nothing to compare with this one.