In 1999 Primakov won second prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition, and in 2001 he was a semi-finalist in the Van Cliburn Competition. Upon hearing Primakov’s performance of “La Valse” at the competition, Van Cliburn himself said “Prodigious technique, really wonderful,” with a “look of sheer rapture on his face.” Primakov then won both the Silver Medal and Audience Prize at the 2002 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. In 2007 he was honored by the Classical Recording Foundation with their Young Artist of the Year Award. His disc of 21 Mazurkas by Chopin was named a "Best of Year" by National Public Radio. In 2011, along with his duo partner Natalia Lavrova, Primakov launched a new Record Label LP Classics http://lpclassics.net/ Their first release was Arensky's Suites for Two Pianos,http://lpclassics.net/anton-arensky-suites-for-two-pianos-2/ as well as first volume of Live Performances of his former teacher and a great Soviet Pianist Vera Gornostayeva http://lpclassics.net/vera-gornostaeva-vol-i-chopin-recital/ James Wegg Review of Arensky Suites for Two Pianos http://www.jamesweggreview.org/Articles.aspx?ID=1463
Mozart: Piano Concertos: No. 24, K. 491; No. 25, K. 503; No. 26, K. 537; No. 27, K. 595
"Primakov in Concert, Vol. 1" Brahms, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff;
Poul Ruders: Piano Concerto No. 2
Mozart Piano Concertos: No. 11, K. 413; No. 20, K. 466; No. 21, K. 467
Rachmaninoff Recital: Preludes and Elegie from op.3, 23 & 32; Corelli Variations op.42
Arlene Sierra: "Birds and Insects, Book 1";
"Primakov in Concert, Vol. 2" Mendelssohn, J.S. Bach, P. Glass, Debussy
Mozart. Piano Concertos: No.17,K.453; No.22,K.482;
Arensky. Suites for Two Pianos; Lavrova/Primakov Piano Duo
Vassily Primakov: Live in Concert. Works by Medtner, Schumann, Brahms and Ravel
Chopin: 3 Sonatas; 4 Ballades; 4 Scherzos;
F. Ries. Piano Sonatas and Sonatina for One Piano, Four Hands. Susan Kagan, and Vassily Primakov
Live from the Gina Bachauer International Piano Festival: Lavrova/ Primakov Piano Duo. Works by Scriabin, Brahms, Busoni and Liszt
Rachmaninoff. Symphonic Dances; Suites for Two Pianos. Lavrova/ Primakov Piano Duo
Braam van Eeden. Piano Sonatas. Natalia Lavrova and Vassily Primakov, piano
Grand Duo. Weber & Mendelssohn. Alexey Gorokholinsky, Clarinet; Vassily Primakov, Piano
Chopin and Rachmaninoff Cello Sonatas. Ben Capps, Cello Vassily Primakov, Piano
Chopin. 51 Mazurkas
MusicWeb-International called his recording of Chopin Piano Concertos “one of the great Chopin recordings of recent times. Primakov's interpretations of the two Chopin piano concertos combine grace and fire in the service of unflagging intensity. These are performances of extraordinary power and beauty.” And Gramophone wrote “Primakov's empathy with Chopin's spirit could hardly be more complete.” Regarding his CD of Chopin Mazurkas, Fanfare wrote “Primakov has made a Chopin recording everyone should hear.”
