Every phrase is so exquisitely turned, so perfectly graded in its nuances, so ideally blended – harmonically, melodically and in relation to what comes before and after – that it could be placed on exhibit for all to wonder at. Like all the great virtuosos, he knows how to bring spaciousness to the most technically demanding passages and inner life to the simplest...The problem – if it is a problem – is the sheer abundance of pianistic marvels.

When you witness the palpable stillness Volodos conjures from the opening of the Andante, and when you hear his chiaroscuro, a light and shade beyond the reach of virtually any other pianist, you feel above all compelled to marvel at Schubert’s genius.

Hard-toned one moment, feathery the next, with seemingly infinite gradations of quietness, Volodos’s sounds are often so magical that hairs may rise on the back of your neck. He’s also a genius at pacing and timing...always savouring harmonic surprises without toppling into self-indulgence. This album is something special.