This Russian piano virtuoso has electrified the contemporary recital circuit with his thrilling renditions of classics by Chopin, Liszt, and Tchaikovsky. He's faithful to the great masters' notes on the page but adds a new edge—hear the rhythmic pulses of his performance of Liszt's “Gnomenreigen.” He's also an expert in the music of his homeland, as the lush, romantic trip through Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no. 1 demonstrates. Whether working as a solo recital draw or as a guest with conductors like Valery Gergiev, Trifonov's playing is magnetic.