Cerebral Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov's learned approach can be heard in his Scriabin: His blend of impressionistic, melodic playing and razor-sharp pacing had its roots in the ‘70s when as a child he began studying piano. His intimate, authoritative approach to the great Russians stems from his time at the Moscow Conservatory and a serendipitous encounter with Sviatoslav Richter. Caressing the notes of the Shostakovich preludes, he maintains an airy and directed sense of focused development; he brings a fiery attitude to Prokofiev's sonatas, whose playful melodies pop under his fingers.