In 2012, some of Trifonov's debuts included appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and recitals in Wigmore Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Longy School of Music of Bard College in Boston, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris.
Of his debut with the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall (then named Avery Fisher Hall) in Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.
3 (Op.
26) conducted by Alan Gilbert, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times wrote that Trifonov "offered far more than mere virtuosity", demonstrating "an elegant touch and witty grace in more lighthearted moments and poetic insight in more introspective passages".
Of his debut with the Cleveland Orchestra at its Blossom Festival in Chopin's Piano Concerto No.
1 conducted by James Gaffigan, The Plain Dealer noted that his performance "demonstrated exquisite finger control, a good ear for tonal shading and supreme contrapuntal clarity".
On the other hand, of his Wigmore Hall debut, Martin Kettle of The Guardian wrote that "there is a rawness in [Trifonov's] playing that is by turns intoxicating and frustrating", adding that  "the battle for his artistic soul is still taking place."

In February 2013, Trifonov made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall.
In a review of that concert, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times noted that Trifonov gave a "beautifully shaped, introspective and elegantly colored interpretation" of Alexander Scriabin's Piano Sonata No.
2 (Op.
19) and that his "soulful artistry and virtuoso chops were in full evidence" in Franz Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor.
However, of the Liszt Sonata, Schweitzer wrote that "over all his interpretation lacked an essential power and demonic fury," adding that "hardly surprising if at only 21 Mr. Trifonov is not yet at the height of his artistry; it will doubtless be even more rewarding to hear him play this work in a few years."
The concert was recorded by Deutsche Grammophon for an album release later in the year that was a huge success; it peaked at #18 in Billboard Top Classical Albums charts and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
 Also in 2013 he was awarded the Franco Abbiati Prize for Best Instrumental Soloist by Italy's foremost music critics.
Previous recipients of the prestigious award include such renowned keyboard artists as Maurizio Pollini, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Sviatoslav Richter, Radu Lupu, and András Schiff.

In 2014, the Cleveland Institute of Music commissioned Trifonov to write a concerto for piano and orchestra.
The world premiere of the Piano Concerto in E-flat minor took place on 23 April; the composer was soloist and was accompanied by the CIM Orchestra conducted by Joel Smirnoff.
Of the performance, Zachary Lewis of The Plain Dealer wrote that "even having seen it, one cannot quite believe it.
Such is the artistry of pianist-composer Daniil Trifonov."
He also wrote of the concerto that while it "contained whole expanses of raw originality, the work also struck this listener as heavily indebted to such masters as Scriabin, Bartok, Shostakovich and Prokofiev."

From 2014 to 2015, Trifonov performed the complete cycle of Rachmaninoff piano concertos and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the New York Philharmonic.
He also recorded the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin for his second album for DG.
The album, which included other solo works by Rachmaninoff as well as his own composition Rachmaniana, secured Trifonov his second Grammy nomination.
In 2012, some of Trifonov's debuts included appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and recitals in Wigmore Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Longy School of Music of Bard College in Boston, the Musikverein in Vienna, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Of his debut with the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall (then named Avery Fisher Hall) in Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 (Op. 26) conducted by Alan Gilbert, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times wrote that Trifonov "offered far more than mere virtuosity", demonstrating "an elegant touch and witty grace in more lighthearted moments and poetic insight in more introspective passages". Of his debut with the Cleveland Orchestra at its Blossom Festival in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 conducted by James Gaffigan, The Plain Dealer noted that his performance "demonstrated exquisite finger control, a good ear for tonal shading and supreme contrapuntal clarity". On the other hand, of his Wigmore Hall debut, Martin Kettle of The Guardian wrote that "there is a rawness in [Trifonov's] playing that is by turns intoxicating and frustrating", adding that  "the battle for his artistic soul is still taking place."
In February 2013, Trifonov made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall. In a review of that concert, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times noted that Trifonov gave a "beautifully shaped, introspective and elegantly colored interpretation" of Alexander Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 2 (Op. 19) and that his "soulful artistry and virtuoso chops were in full evidence" in Franz Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor. However, of the Liszt Sonata, Schweitzer wrote that "over all his interpretation lacked an essential power and demonic fury," adding that "hardly surprising if at only 21 Mr. Trifonov is not yet at the height of his artistry; it will doubtless be even more rewarding to hear him play this work in a few years." The concert was recorded by Deutsche Grammophon for an album release later in the year that was a huge success; it peaked at #18 in Billboard Top Classical Albums charts and was nominated for a Grammy Award.  Also in 2013 he was awarded the Franco Abbiati Prize for Best Instrumental Soloist by Italy's foremost music critics. Previous recipients of the prestigious award include such renowned keyboard artists as Maurizio Pollini, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Sviatoslav Richter, Radu Lupu, and András Schiff.
In 2014, the Cleveland Institute of Music commissioned Trifonov to write a concerto for piano and orchestra. The world premiere of the Piano Concerto in E-flat minor took place on 23 April; the composer was soloist and was accompanied by the CIM Orchestra conducted by Joel Smirnoff. Of the performance, Zachary Lewis of The Plain Dealer wrote that "even having seen it, one cannot quite believe it. Such is the artistry of pianist-composer Daniil Trifonov." He also wrote of the concerto that while it "contained whole expanses of raw originality, the work also struck this listener as heavily indebted to such masters as Scriabin, Bartok, Shostakovich and Prokofiev."
From 2014 to 2015, Trifonov performed the complete cycle of Rachmaninoff piano concertos and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the New York Philharmonic. He also recorded the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin for his second album for DG. The album, which included other solo works by Rachmaninoff as well as his own composition Rachmaniana, secured Trifonov his second Grammy nomination.
Daniil Trifonov