Salzburg, Day 17, Arcadi Volodos

Last night was one of my favorite concerts of the festival. Russian pianist Arcadi Volodos gave a terrific recital in the Großer Saal of the Mozarteum.

FRANZ SCHUBERT

Piano Sonata in A minor D. 845

INTERVAL

ROBERT SCHUMANN

Davidsbündlertänze (Dances of the League of David) op. 6

FRANZ LISZT

Hungarian Rhapsody in A minor S 244/13

Version by Arcadi Volodos

ENCORE

SERGEY RACHMANINOFF

Lied “Hier ist es schön” op. 21 Nr. 7

FRANZ SCHUBERT

Moments musicaux, D. 780

Nr. 3 f-Moll. Allegro moderato.

ERNESTO LECUONA

Malaguena

ANTONIO VIVALDI

Sicilienne (Transkription von J. S. Bach, BWV 596)

Again, the helpful elves of the festival have added the four encores to the program. The only one I recognized was, of course, the Malagueña of Lecuona in a wildly virtuoso arrangement.

The first half consisted entirely of the Piano Sonata D. 845 of Franz Schubert and it was quite likely the finest performance of a Schubert sonata I have ever heard--my seat-mate thought the last movement was a bit too fast, though. Volodos played with complete control, both technical and expressive. The tone was liquid and melting with a wide dynamic range. He is one pianist who is not afraid to both explore the quietest pianissimi as well as shake the rafters with a full-blooded fortissimo.

This was followed by the Davidsbündertänze of Robert Schumann which I haven't heard in quite a while but again, it was a masterful performance rich in lyric grace and in muscular assertion. I'm afraid I drifted off in the Liszt as I tend to when there is an excess of virtuosity. But I was fully alert for the four encores the audience demanded. The Großer Saal is an excellent venue for a piano recital as it is so much more intimate than the big halls on the Karajan-platz.

I attended Volodos' recital at the 2021 Salzburg Festival and my comment was quite similar:

He is a magician at the keyboard, with astounding command of the finest shades of dynamic and color. He often creates mystic atmospheres of texture with finely delineated pianissimi and is a master of the pregnant pause. He rarely resorts to fortissimo and it is more effective for that very reason.

 On that occasion he played in the Haus für Mozart, a hall twice as large as the Großer Saal. Here is a photo from last night:

Arcadi Volodos in the Großer Saal of the Mozarteum