"A pianistic firework display"

"In Gaspard de la nuit Tokarev vividly depicts the ghostly figures. […] Bent over the keyboard and almost vanishing in it, the pianist almost seems to portray the gnome-like knocking ghost in Scarbo himself, while in Peer Gynt he even finds a hint of the demonic in the exuberant mazurka. […] Tokarev makes rhythms and metres trip up, then ride the helter-skelter, he makes notes dance on tiptoe and turn gentle pirouettes. But then unrestrained love of playing grabs him, and the jazzy hops, skips and jumps, the swinging melodies reminiscent of Gershwin literally run away with the transfiguring dance of the swans. The audience was captivated by this pianistic firework display – understandably so."

 (Westdeutsche Zeitung, concert in Wuppertal)

"Brilliant keyboard magic"

"The pianist Nikolai Tokarev is one of the most remarkable young artists currently appearing on the big international concert platforms. The 27-year-old places his stupendous technique at the service of the musical message at all times."

 (Frankfurter Rundschau, concert in Frankfurt)

"For Tokarev, a recital is first and foremost a game of effects. Carefully and with a touch of the utmost refinement, ke kneels down and opens up a musical cosmos that varies between dreamy sequences, dramatic outbursts and dancing lightness. Melodies blossom and emotions glitter. There was just enough time to get one's breath back in the interval."

(Westdeutsche Zeitung, concert in Mönchengladbach)

“Nikolai Tokarev - a concert at the Ruhr piano festival that was an event. Liszt's 'La Campanella' was the culmination of the evening. Maybe a culminating event in the performance history of the piece. ... Tokarev's assured sense of style is fascinating. He does not try to reinvent the music, he simply plays it, clearly and beautifully.”

(Rheinische Post)