It wasn't through participation in a prestigious competition that Arcadi Volodos's career took off on its meteoric ascent: instead, somebody told the head of one of the world's leading record companies about the Russian pianist studying in France. "One only encounters a talent like Volodos once in a lifetime,” was the quickly forthcoming opinion, and a record contract immediately followed. Born in Leningrad, the artist first studied in the conservatories of his native city and Moscow before moving on to the Conservatoire de Paris to study with Jacques Rouvier. He later continued his training in Madrid with the world-famous Dmitri Bashkirov. He made his New York début in 1996, with the audience and critics immediately taking note of his unique playing style there as well. His album Live at Carnegie Hall, released in 1999, garnered great acclaim. He won a Gramophone Award in that same year, and was recognised with an Echo Klassic award in 2003.
Volodos is a returning artist in the world's greatest concert halls: the Berlin, Israel and London philharmonics, Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Boston, Chicago and San Francisco symphony orchestras - these are only of the few ensembles that he performs together with on a regular basis. Critics compare his playing to that of Vladimir Horowitz: brilliant technique, solutions that dispense with convention while always serving the music and remarkable skill that is spellbinding for the listener to hear. His dazzling transcriptions also showcase both his unique style and his talent as a composer.

Presented by: Jakobi Koncert Kft., Besszer Koncert Kft.