The Russian virtuoso was accompanied by the Pilsen Philharmonic under the baton of Daniel Raiskin. The audience acknowledged Volodin’t performance with a standing ovation and was rewarded by an encore, also by Sergei Rachmaninoff. After the intermission the Pilsen Philharmonic played Symphony No. 3 in E flat major “Eroica” by Ludwig van Beethoven. “Being invited to the festival in Český Krumlov once again was a great honour for me. The atmosphere of the town is truly magical,” said the soloist. “Alexei Volodin and I have been good friends for many years, he is a genuine artist without the manners of a star. This is the only way in which real music may be born. Great composers whose works we played tonight did not think about their own fame either, they thought only about the work itself,” observed conductor Daniel Raiskin.