I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of this new disc from the Russian virtuoso Arcadi Volodos (UK release date October 2nd 2000). Sadly I was disappointed.
The recording of Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano concerto is live and although the sound is perfectly adequate, it lacks the crispness and immediacy of a studio recording. Volodos is technically outstanding, but I feel that he's just going through the motions here, playing the notes with very little thought about what's behind them. It makes for a flat, emotionless and dull performance.
The concerto is coupled with some of Rachmaninov's shorter solo piano pieces, which are better, but still not outstanding.
If you're a huge fan of Volodos, you might want to buy this to add to your collection. If you want to hear a decent recording of Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto, buy Ashkenazy conducted by Previn on Decca and get all four for the same price.
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I found Volodos's playing to be staggeringly good in the concerto especially in the first movement cadenza. The finale was also up to the mark and all captured on a fantastic recording. Listen to it on the best hifi equipment you can and it will hit the mark. Such artistry cannot be dismissed too lightly. There are very few pianists of this quality performing today.
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