This recording makes the Tchaikovsky Concerto no.1 sound completely fresh and absorbing, as if it's taking you on a new journey. It's hard to believe because the piece is so familiar, but somehow Daniil Trifonov has this effect, aided by the technicians on this very immediate recorded sound and wonderful phrasing from Gergiev. The opening statement of the theme, for instance, is surprising in its nuances that make it seem as if the tune has just been thought of, with no sense of monolithic pounding, yet it has all the vividness and strength it needs as well. My impression is of a razor-sharp technique, very much in the Russian tradition, and the product of years of the most intense practice, liberated by a total freshness of inspiration and youthful energy. The piano and orchestra merge in a superbly big sound, as if you were standing right in the middle of the orchestra, yet the solos have a cushioned effect as well, a kind of pliability ... this carries through the tender slow movement to the exhilaration of the dancing finale which has a wonderfully stable pulse. The Barcarolle provides a tender moment of calm after such elation, only to plunge into more playing of transcendent beauty in the remarkable Schubert arrangements. This has to be one of the most brilliant concerto debuts even where there are so many superb young pianists - Trifonov is a marvel!