Robert Volkmann, born in Germany, was virtually unknown as a composer until he moved to Hungary in the 1840s. Volkmann gained recognition there thanks to figures such as Franz Liszt, Hans von Bülow, and Richard Wagner, who expressed their admiration for his Piano Trio op. 5. Volkmann's music navigates between the radical and conservative camps of his era: the early "Fantasiebilder" show the influence of Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn, while the sparkling Piano Sonata in C minor retains the classical foundations of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert. From the cimbalom effects in the "Hungarian Songs" to the playfulness of the "Grandmother's Songs," Volkmann's expressivity is consistently infused with rhythmic vitality. The "Naxos Romantic Piano" series made its debut in September 2025 with works by Julius Benedict and was enthusiastically received by MusicWeb International. Featuring numerous world premiere recordings, this series explores and champions lesser-known composers and unconventional repertoire. Other installments present rarely heard works by Charles Gounod, compositions by Friedrich Kiel, and piano sonatas by Józef Wieniawski. Armenian pianist Levon Avagyan combines virtuosity and depth with a distinctive musical sensibility
musical sensibility. In 2017, he gained international recognition as a prize winner at the Maria Canals International Music Competition in Barcelona. Since then, he has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras throughout Europe and regularly appears at major festivals such as the Gstaad Menuhin Festival.