5 Classic Albums - Martha Agerich

Description

Pianist Martha Argerich is featured in this second batch of our series comprising five original artist studio albums in one clamshell box. The first of five discs in this set offers live recordings of three works: Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op.12, and Maurice Ravel's Sonatine and Gaspard de la nuit. These three works were recorded live in 1979 at Concergebouw Amsterdam. Disc two of this set features piano works from a variety of composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin, and Béla Bartók. These works were also recorded live in 1979 at Concergebouw Amsterdam. Disc three of this set showcases Argerich's performance of Ludwig van Beethoven s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, Op. 56, and of Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54. These two works are performed with violinist Renaud Capuçon, cellist Mischa Maisky, and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, and are conducted by Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky. The fourth disc in this set provides Argerich's masterful performance of Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11, and Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21. These two works by Chopin are performed alongside the Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal, and under the direction of Charles Dutoit. The final disc in this five disc set features performances of both Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Flat, Op. 10, and Piano Concerto No. 3 in C, Op. 26, as well as a performance of Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119. These three 20th century works, in relation to the earlier works presented on other discs in this collection, truly highlight the breadth of Argerich's performance style and virtuosity. Martha Argerich was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1941. She began piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo Scaramuzza. Considered a child prodigy, she soon performed in public. At age 14, Argerich moved to Europe to continue her studies in London, Vienna and in Switzerland alongside a variety of well-known teachers. In 1957, two years after moving to Europe, Argerich she won the Bolzano and Geneva Piano Competitions, and in 1965 she won the Warsaw International Chopin Competition. Since her early success, Argerich has been one of the most prominent pianists in the world, both in popularity and ability. Review: Obviously obligatory purchase - If you don't own any or all of these cds this is an obligatory purchase (particularly at the price) Here's my rundown: cd !: Unfortunately the set gets off to a poor start with a loud, fast and frantic performance of Schumann's Fantasiestucke. Try Richter instead. The first two movement of Gaspard de la Nuit are not as good as Argerich's studio perforamnce. Le Gibet, in particular, lacks the loneliness and desperation this piece can evoke and the repeated notes are not well integrated into the sound picture. Scarbo, however, is simply mesmerizing. cd 2: Start here with some of the greatest performances you'll ever hear. Argerich's Bach is perfection itself. I'd single out two movement: the gently flowing Allemand (with each section ending with effortless elegance) and the motorized, raucus Rondeau. The rest of the cd is equally wonderful.. The third Chopin scherzo is even more exciting than the studio performance. Argerich's double octaves beggar description. cd 3:The Beethoven Triple Concerto is a fine performance of a piece I don't really like. The Schumann piano concerto performance is strange and entertaining. Argerich is at her most unpredictable here, holding back and lurching forward at will. The orchestra is obviously having difficulty keeping up with her. Somehow it all works. This is hardly anyone's reference recording, but it is great fun. cd 4: The Chopin concertos with Dutoit. I thought I had grown tired of these works, but I was overwhelmed by the power and elegance of Argerich's playing. At the moment I'd say these are the best performances of the works I know. cd 5: Prokofiev #1 and #3 and Bartok #3. Very good performances, though I perfer Cliburn in the Prokofiev #3 and Anda in the Bartok. You need this set. Review: EMI Strikes Gold - If a customer purchased five albums from this collection separately - after this compilation was published in 2013 - he would have paid more than three times the price of this. Yes, it's THE bargain. As for Martha Argerich, one of the most unique and revered pianists of our era, the five albums (recorded in 1979, 1997, 1998 and 2002/2003) offer a comprehensive cross-section of her artistry. One slight exception is a lack of chamber music performances, just the rare Triple concerto (late Beethoven) is included here - but with Mischa Maisky on cello and Renaud Capucon on violin there is also the entire Swiss-Italian orchestra. Therefore, concertos abound here - including her perennial favorites. Both Chopins, Prokofiev No.3 and Schumann were recorded by EMI after some three decades since the first recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, all showing her ripe, competent technique. Prokofiev No. 1 and Bartok No. 3 she recorded for the first time in the late 1990's, also captured here. As for the solo performances from Amsterdam (1979), these show some kind of extra energy the Argentinian pianists felt during the live performances. This sometimes has an impact on the quality of play, as, for example, Precipitato of Prokofiev's 7th Sonata is rather rushed - maybe because of too much adrenaline. However, Schumann and Ravel by Argerich are hard to beat anywhere. She's born to play both. Even though, especially at Ravel, she's speeding. All five albums capture Martha Argerich in all her glory and show an interesting contrast between a still wild soloist in the late 1970's and the mature team player two decades later.