All Music Guide
A brilliantly played, superbly selected and wonderfully recorded recital, Arcadi Volodos' first disc devoted entirely to the solo piano music of Liszt is an complete success. Although Liszt wrote some of the most difficult piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is included here, Volodos sails over any problems without deigning to notice them. The blazing double octaves, the blistering scales, the glittering tremolos, the sparkling sonorities, the giddy tempos: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him. And although Liszt also wrote some of the most deliberately ostentatious piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is also included here, Volodos rides over any questionable moments without bothering to credit them. The crashing crescendos, the hushed pianissimos, the careening rhythms, the monstrous chords: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him -- thankfully, sparing him and us from the composer's own worst excesses. Recorded in palpably present sound by producer Friedemann Engelbrecht in Teldex Studio, Berlin, in 2006, this disc will thrill any Liszt fan -- and possibly sway any non-Liszt fan. James Leonard
All Music Guide
A brilliantly played, superbly selected, and wonderfully recorded recital, Arcadi Volodos' first disc devoted entirely to the solo piano music of Liszt is a complete success. Although Liszt wrote some of the most difficult piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is included here, Volodos sails over any problems without deigning to notice them. The blazing double octaves, the blistering scales, the glittering tremolos, the sparkling sonorities, the giddy tempos: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him. And although Liszt also wrote some of the most deliberately ostentatious piano music ever composed, and although a lot of that music is also included here, Volodos rides over any questionable moments without bothering to credit them. The crashing crescendos, the hushed pianissimos, the careening rhythms, the monstrous chords: whatever Liszt wants, Volodos gives him -- thankfully, sparing him and us from the composer's own worst excesses. Recorded in palpably present sound by producer Friedemann Engelbrecht in Teldex Studio, Berlin, in 2006, this disc will thrill any Liszt fan -- and possibly sway any non-Liszt fan. James Leonard
Gramophone
To hear the instrument sound like this is a simple joy.... Volodos not only equals Horowitz's demonic ferocity but adds seemingly impossible difficulties of his own.... A great pianist and a great recording. Jeremy Nicholas
BBC Music Magazine



Volodos's recording of some of Liszt's greatest hits is one to induce blinking, gasping, multiple couldn't-believe-my-ears replays, and the occasional entirely appropriate swoon. Jessica Duchen
San Francisco Chronicle
Volodos comes at Liszt's expressively charged piano pieces with high-impact technique. Steven Winn
Classic FM Magazine
Volodos bring Liszt’s mesmerising music intoxicatingly to life.
Daily Telegraph
As a well-rounded and absorbingly played portrait of Liszt's piano writing, combining virtuosity with understanding, this generous and warmly recorded collection is hard to beat. Matthew Rye