After the tremendously successful first Rendez-Vous with Martha Argerich, this second volume will certainly thrill music lovers from all around the world again. For this new edition, Martha Argerich partners with high-profile musical friends such as Sylvain Cambreling, Renaud Capuçon, Charles Dutoit, Gabriela Montero, Edgar Moreau, Akane Sakai and many others in new repertoire like Mendelssohn' Second Piano Trio, or in stalwarts of her repertoire such as Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto, Beethoven's 'Kreutzer' Sonata or Schumann's Kinderszenen. In total: 6 albums that will allow you to marvel at the art of Martha Argerich and her friends in state of the art new recordings.
The third installment of Rendez-vous with Martha Argerich brings together captivating recordings from the international Festival Martha Argerich in Hamburg, showcasing an extraordinary lineup of soloists. Among the highlights are several first collaborations on record, notably between Martha Argerich, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mischa Maisky, but also between Martha Argerich and Maria-João Pires. Many other prestigious guests include Renaud Capucon, Nelson Goerner, Gidon Kremer, Tedi Papavrami, Akiko Suwanai and Michael Volle. Particularly note-worthy is the deeply emotional interpretation of Brahms' second viola sonata, marking the poignant final public performance by the dearly missed pianist Nicholas Angelich, with violist Gerard Causse. All in all, this boxset stands as a jubilant tribute to the unparalleled artistry of Martha Argerich and to the incredible array of musical friendships she has develo-ped through the years.
Beethoven, Mozart: Piano Concertos / Argerich, Ozawa, Jochum
BR Klassik
CD
$19.99Sep 29, 2009
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1.1 MOZART Piano Concerto No. 182 • Martha Argerich (pn); Seiji Ozawa, cond;1 Eugen Jochum, cond;2 Bavarian RSO • BR 900701 (63:37) Live: Munich 7/17/1983;1 Würzburg 6/22/19732
If there are two composers not normally associated with the kind of white-heat performances of Martha Argerich, they are Beethoven and Mozart. Though generally thought of as a pianist of the virtuoso repertoire, including everything from the Liszt Sonata to the Prokofiev concertos, Argerich here shows herself to be not only a stylish player, but a profoundly interesting one as well. While some might describe Argerich’s playing here as “holding back,” I would disagree; she has absorbed the style of the music that she’s playing here so completely that, rather than giving less than normal, it sounds like she is giving just enough.
The Beethoven is very good. The orchestra, at times seems a bit sluggish, especially in the opening tutti before the piano makes its entrance, but Argerich has an ability to breathe life into the performance. Her playing has spontaneity; one feels at times that she is almost improvising the figurational patterns. The vitality and the lightness, which Argerich brings out so well, are evident from her very first entry. The balance between orchestra and piano is maintained well throughout; the soloist and instrumentalists of the orchestra always playing off of each other well. The pianist’s dynamic control is, as always, superb. When Argerich plays the trill in the first movement at 12: 14, the notes detached, and pulls back at 12:16 to begin the trill pianissimo and legato, to only crescendo up a few seconds later, the effect is not only breathtaking, but palpable. The movements that follow are equally well done. Argerich’s ability to produce a transparent, mezza voce sound in the slow movement is ideal. The rapid scalar runs are easy for her, and the effect more of a dynamic surge than ornamental filigree. The third movement is taken at a lively pace, and the offbeat accents sound naturally done—never over the top. This recording is similar in conception to another of Argerich’s live performances with the Royal Concertgebouw under Heinz Wallberg (EMI 56974), though I prefer this rendition with Ozawa.
This is the only recording I know of Argerich playing this Mozart Concerto. As good as the Beethoven is, the Mozart is better. The balance here is even finer than in the previous Concerto, and the colors inherent in the orchestration are brought to the fore—Mozart’s mastery is in evidence here and the performers bring this out especially well. One of my favorite moments is in the second variation of the second movement, the Andante un poco sostenuto, where the strings take over the melody and the piano is left to wander about with its figurative patterns. Later, after the Maggiore section, the same treatment of the melody in the strings and the piano with figurative accompaniment is again done perfectly; this time the figurative wandering, in both the left and right hands of the piano, is even more delicately accomplished. Argerich shows her understanding of this passage and does so with sensitivity. The third movement is the epitome of jollity. The tempo, perfectly chosen, again allows Argerich to keep the scalar patterns light and graceful.
These are both fine performances, ones that I would not hesitate to have in my collection. The sound is good, the piano a bit forward at certain moments, but musically made up for in the performances. As these are staples of the concerto repertoire though, I would still recommend owning a few other fine performances: in the Beethoven, Adrian Aeschbacher with Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting the Lucerne Festival Orchestra (Music & Arts 1018), an older recording with less than modern studio sound, but a fabulous performance, and in the Mozart, Peter Serkin with Alexander Schneider conducting the English Chamber Orchestra (RCA Victor Red Seal 35123—now available on arkivmusic.com as an ArkivCD).
Traditionally, Switzerland has an important and impressive heritage regarding festivals for classical music, among them the famous Lucerne Festival, rooting back to the so-called "Concert de Gala" in the gardens of Richard Wagner's villa at Tribschen in 1938 conducted by Arturo Toscanini. This release features the fascinating variety and the many facets of the classical festival scene in Switzerland. The selection of the works takes the importance of big names and well known works into account, but also presents modern or even avant-garde approaches or less well known chamber music works.
The world’s leading orchestras, conductors and soloists, outstanding concert venues like the KKL Culture and Convention Centre by the renowned architect Jean Nouvel in Lucerne, a breathtaking landscape: there are many reasons for falling in love with the Swiss music festivals. The Swiss festivals now draw more than 500,000 classical music enthusiasts to the shores of Lake Lucerne or the Verbier mountains every year. And the numbers of visitors is growing from year to year. With this release, you will understand why.
CONTENTS:
DISC 1: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 Francesco Piemontesi, piano Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Roger Norrington, conductor
Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543 Francesco Piemontesi, piano Le Cercle de L'Harmonie / Jérémie Rhorer, conductor
DISC 2: Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551, "Jupiter" Le Cercle de L'Harmonie / Jérémie Rhorer, conductor
DISC 3: Elgar: Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47 Schumann Quartett CHAARTS Chamber Artists Felix Froschhammer, concert master
Kancheli: Chiaroscuro for Violin and Orchestra Sebastian Bohren, violin CHAARTS Chamber Artists Andreas Fleck, conductor
Schumann: Dein Angesicht, Op. 127 No. 2 Lehn' deine Wang' an meine Wang', Op. 142 No. 2 Es leuchtet meine Liebe, Op. 127 No. 3 Mein Wagen rollet langsam, Op. 142 No. 4 Ian Bostridge, tenor Saskia Giorgini, piano
Ralph Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge: V. Bredon Hill Ian Bostridge, tenor Casal Quartett
Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z. 629: O Let Me Weep Regula Mühlemann, soprano Robin Müller, violin CHAARTS Chamber Artists
DISC 4: Brahms: Piano Trio No.1, Op. 8 Jonian-Ilias Kadesha, violin Vashti Hunter, cello Joonas Ahonen, piano
Blum: Luzerner Kreisel Silke Gäng, mezzo-soprano Oliwia Grabowska, piano
Gesualdo: Madrigals, Libro 6: II. Beltà poi che t'assenti Davos Festival Kammerchor
Dalbavie: Palimpseste für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Viola, Violoncello und Klavier Àgnes Vass, flute Joonas Ahonen, piano
Dickkopf: Paris Davos Festival Männerchor
DISC 5: Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 Lily Francis, violin Festival Orchestra / Willem de Bordes, conductor
Enescu: Romanian Rhapsodies, Op. 11: No. 1 in A Major Jonian-Ilias Kadesha, violin Festival Orchestra / Daniel Bard, concert master
DISC 6: Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 5 in D Major, Op. 70 No. 1 "Ghost" Candida Thompson, violin Xenia Jankovic, cello Paolo Giacometti, piano
Enescu: Octet in C Major, Op. 7 Daniel Bard, violin
DISC 7: Bach: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 Britten: Hymn to St. Caecilia Gabrieli Consort & Players Paul McCreesh, conductor
DISC 8: Mozart: Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 Elgar: They Are at Rest Gabrieli Consort & Players Paul McCreesh, conductor
DISC 9: Haydn: Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Hob. I:6 "Le Matin" CHAARTS Chamber Artists Gregory Ahss, concert master
Sollima: Fecit Neap 17 Giovanni Sollima, cello CHAARTS Chamber Artists Gregory Ahss, concert master
Schönberg: Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 Felix Froschhammer, violin Gregory Ahss, violin Lawrence Power, viola Razvan Popovici, viola Maximilian Hornung, cello Andreas Fleck, cello
DISC 10: Webern: Sechs Stücke für großes Orchester, Op. 6 Orchestra of the Lucerne Festival Academy / Susanna Mälkki, conductor
Neuwirth: Trurliade - Zone Zero Victor Hanna, percussion Orchestra of the Lucerne Festival Academy / Susanna Mälkki, conductor
Rihm: Gruss-Moment für Pierre Boulez Ligeti: San Francisco Polyphony Orchestra of the Lucerne Festival Academy / Matthias Pintscher, conductor
DISC 11: Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79 Shostakovich: Cello Sonata in D Minor, Op 40 Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19 Bloch: From Jewish Life, IEB 6 Sol Gabetta, violin Bertrand Chamayou, piano
DISC 12: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra / James Levine, conductor
DISC 13: Bach: Concerto for 4 Keyboards in A Minor, BWV 1065 Martha Argerich, piano Evgeny Kissin, piano James Levine, piano Mikhail Pletnev, piano
Haydn: Symphony No. 88 in G Major, Hob. I:88 Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra / András Schiff, conductor
Rachmaninoff: Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19 Lynn Harrell, cello Yuja Wang, piano
Ysaye: Sonata for 2 Violins in A Minor, Op. posth. Joshua Bell, violin Leonidas Kavakos, violin
Martha Argerich Plays Beethoven & Ravel / Shani, Israel Philharmonic
Avanti Classic
CD
$15.99$20.99Save 25%Mar 24, 2023
In the opening Allegro con brio movement of the Piano Concerto No. 2, Beethoven follows Classical rules, concentrating on the two principal subjects of a double exposition—orchestra first, the soloist next—then a development section, and finally, a recapitulation. The main themes in their cheerful confidence are distinctly Beethoven’s. However, their working out is clearly influenced not only by Haydn but also by the recently departed Mozart. The middle movement—Adagio, in E flat major—hints at the slow movement of the Fourth Concerto to come a decade later. It is, in effect, an accompanied fantasia that resembles a carefree theme and variations, with an attention-getting solo recitative-like passage at the end. The twice-rewritten finale, Molto allegro, combines sonata and rondo forms, with perhaps the nicest surprise of all saved for last: a brief solo rumination which the orchestra brusquely interrupts with a terminal tantara. Mozart may have been his model, but the spirit here is pure young Beethoven.
Far from any kind of drama, the first movement of Ravel's G Major Concerto emphasizes joy, elegance, and cheerfulness. It all starts with a crack of a whip! Ravel sets out five thematic figures with Spanish influences and glissando-like jazz sounds; “circus-like elements” are also particularly evident in his extensive use of percussion. The Adagio offers the greatest possible contrast to this. The movement is characterized by simplicity and discretion. The final movement, Presto, abruptly tears the listener away from the melancholy mood. The music unfolds at a breathtaking speed, defined by circus-like percussion. The piano-playing is determined by frantic activity, indeed, by breathlessness. The motifs are sometimes onomatopoeic, now and then syncopated, at times march-like and grotesquely distorted, but always tempestuously pressing ahead until the fanfare from the beginning abruptly ends the work.
A musician as loved as he was admired, the pianist Nicholas Angelich died in Paris in April 2022 at the age of 51. Angelich was a modest, thoughtful man who brought tremendous integrity, depth and insight to the most demanding repertoire. His association with Warner Classics lasted some 20 years, and the label pays tribute to him with this 7CD collection of previously unreleased recordings of solo, chamber and concerto repertoire. Made either in the concert hall or for radio broadcast between 1999 and 2016, they range wide, including works by Bach, Bartok, Beethoven Berg, Brahms, Franck, Haydn, Liszt, Mussorgsky, Ravel, Rachmaninov and Zemlinsky. Appearing with Angelich are Martha Argerich, Quatuor Ebene, Myung-Whun Chung and the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, and Tugan Sokhiev and the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse.
The eminent Martha Argerich is one of the most loved and admired classical pianists of all time. She quickly gained worldwide reputation for her exciting performances. This release is the fifth in DOREMI’s special series of rare archival broadcasts featuring the artistry of the young Argerich from early in her spectacular career which spanned more than five decades. This release features Mozart’s Concerto No. 20, recorded on June 16, 1966, and Bach’s Toccata in C minor, Schumann’s Fantasie in C Major, and Chopin’s 3 Mazurkas, recorded in Milan on March 14, 1966.
Live at the Theatre Antique d'Orange / Chung, Argerich, Angelich
BelAir Classiques
DVD
$29.99Jun 24, 2016
This live recording was taken in the Theatre antique d’Orange in June of 2015, and features the Orchestre PHilharmonique de Radio France, conducted by Myung-Whun Chung. Classic favorites bookend this concert, beginning with Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, and ending with Saint-Saens’s 3rd Symphony in C minor. Featured instrumentalists include pianists Martha Argerich, Nicholas Angelich, and organist Christophe Henry.
Volume 3 in the Legendary Treasures series further expands Martha Argerich’s discography with two important works: five unreleased radio, live and studio recordings, mainly solo works, stand alongside one of the earliest versions of Argerich’s signature work with orchestra. Surprisingly Argerich’s Schumann Toccata has never been released on disc. Her clarity, lightness and speed on this recording may well be compared to the famous recordings by Barere, Cziffra and Horowitz.
Martha Argerich was born in Buenos Aires in 1941 and in the course of her career has risen to become the best-known female pianist in the world. She attracted attention at the early age of three at a school performance. Her formal musical education began when she was five years old, and in 1949 she publicly performed piano concertos by Mozart and Beethoven in Buenos Aires. She was able to attend concerts given by the great pianists of that era and was very impressed with their skill. Friedrich Gulda accepted her as a student in 1955 and she went to Vienna to study with him, although he freely admitted that he did not know what he could teach her. In 1957 she won first prizes at piano competitions in Bolzano and Geneva. Her early recordings made in Buenos Aires (1955) and Geneva (1957) form an interesting part of this collection. These were followed by performances at radio stations in Hamburg and Cologne and then by her first official vinyl recordings. She gained early international recognition in 1961 thanks to a concert in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg, where Martha Argerich performed together with the brilliant violinist Ruggiero Ricci. An example of that historic performance is included in this first audio documentation of the beginnings of this exceptional pianist’s career.
REVIEW:
This is young Argerich, sometimes errant Argerich, but mostly thrilling and thoroughly compelling Argerich. While her pacing can sometimes push limits, she is excellent most of the time; put simply, you are far more likely to be astounded than dismayed.
This new, outstanding live release featuring esteemed pianist Martha Argerich was recorded in Warsaw in 2006 at the Chopin and His Europe International Music Festival. For this programme, she performs one of her favorite Concertos: Shostakovich’s First. She is joined from the podium by her long-time musical partner Alexander Rabinovich. Also featured on this recording is the light-spirited Symphony No. 9, also by Shostakovich. The International Music Festival ‘Chopin and his Europe’ – an international music festival organized in Warsaw since 2005 by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, presenting European music within the context of its links with the life and work of the Polish pianist, composer and teacher Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849). The project is realized as part of the government programme ‘Fryderyk Chopin Heritage 2010’. One important strand to the festival programme is historical performance – presenting works as they were originally heard, on period pianos in the possession of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute: an Erard from 1849, a Pleyel from 1846 and a Graf (a copy of an instrument from c. 1819). The festival is organized in collaboration with the Warsaw Philharmonic, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera and Polish Radio II.
In 1961, Ruggiero Ricci was already a world famous violin soloist. He asked the up-and-coming pianist Martha Argerich, then only 19, to join him on a tour to Russia. Presented here is the radio broadcast of their second Leningrad recital. The first was already released by DOREMI (DHR-8040). The recital took place on April 22, 1961. All items of this live performance presentation are recorded here for the first time. "Her concerts conjure up scenes from another place and time; grown men running down the aisles clutching bouquets, world-renowned musicians pummeling the railings of the upper boxes, jaded critics breaking into foolish smiles." So ran Alex Ross's rhapsodic description of a Martha Argerich recital
The fourth installment of Rendez-vous with Martha Argerich brings new fascinating recordings from the international Festival Martha Argerich in Hamburg, showcasing a superb lineup of soloists among which Lily, Sascha and Mischa Maisky, Edgar Moreau, Rosanne Philippens, Akane Sakai, Michael Volle and Sergio Tiempo. Particularly noteworthy are the highlights of a Chopin evening showcasing some of the most remarkable laureates of the Chopin Competition (Warsaw). This box set is a triumphant celebration of Martha Argerich's incomparable artistry and of the remarkable circle of musicians she is collaborating with.
The complete Carnegie Hall debut of the then 25 year old Martha Argerich in 1966 is the subject of this marvelous collection highlighting as it does her incipient musical gifts that continue to enthrall audiences today. Argerich's performance can be appreciated with the uncommonly good technical quality this recording possesses, and her program which included Prokofiev, Liszt, Chopin and Schumann hint delectably at the nascence of the legend she would go on and continues to build.
Martha Argerich is one of the most respected and popular classical artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. This fourth volume in DOREMI's series devoted to the pianist includes previously unreleased tracks from over 50 years ago, with most items coming from the 1965 Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
Martha Argerich is universally recognized as one of the preeminent pianists of all time. This disc includes broadcasts from 1957 and 1960, before she won the Chopin International Competition, and most are being released on CD for the first time.
The eminent Martha Argerich is one of the most loved and admired Classical pianists of all time. She quickly gained and maintained world-wide reputation for her exciting performances and This set is the 15th volume of DOREMI’s special series of live performances and broadcasts featuring the artistry of the young Martha Argerich. Most items in this set are First release ever.
The eminent Martha Argerich is one of the most loved and admired classical pianists of all time. She quickly gained and maintained world-wide reputation for her exciting performances. This set is the 11th volume of DOREMI's special series of live performances and broadcasts featuring the artistry of the young Martha Argerich. Most items are first release ever. The performances here are live recordings from her Venice recital in February 1969, and from her Cologne broadcast in September 1960.
Martha Argerich Live, Vol. 8: Tchaikovsky, R. Schumann, Chopin & More
Doremi
CD
$40.99Oct 07, 2022
Over 20 years ago, Alex Ross, the noted music critic for the New Yorker, described the atmosphere of a Martha Argerich recital in terms reminiscent of the golden age of nineteenth century piano virtuosos: “Her concerts conjure up scenes from another place and time: grown men running down the aisles clutching bouquets, world-renowned musicians pummeling the railings of the upper boxes, jaded critics breaking into foolish smiles.” The subject of these rapturous responses, has, unlike the traditional virtuoso, played relatively few solo recitals, preferring to make music with others. This set is the 8th volume of DOREMI’s special series of live performances and broadcasts featuring the artistry of the young Martha Argerich.
The eminent Martha Argerich is one of the most loved and admired classical pianists of all time. She quickly gained and maintained world-wide reputation for her exciting performances. This set is the 7th volume in DOREMI’s special series of live performances and broadcasts featuring the artistry of the young Martha Argerich. This volume features works by Prokofiev, Robert Schumann, Chopin, Bach, Liszt, and Ravel, all recorded live during the second half of the 1960s. Each of these recordings is receiving here its first ever release.
Antonio Pappano - Complete Santa Cecilia Symphonic,Concertante & Sacred Music Recordings
WARNER CLASSICS
CD
$100.49Aug 09, 2024
The collaborative efforts, the mutual emulation and inspiration of Sir Antonio Pappano and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome have spanned 18 years, led to one of the world's greatest and most versatile virtuoso ensembles and to acclaimed live and studio recordings showcasing an eclectic selection of symphonic and choral music. Their repertoire features already legendary performances of Verdi's Requiem and Quattro pezzi sacri. In addition, their recording of Bruckner's 8th Symphony features here for the very first time! This box brings together all the recordings that the British conductor Sir Antonio Pappano (b.1959) made with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the years from 2005 to 2022 for Warner Classics.
Cellist Gautier Capucon is the constant presence in this programme of music by Robert Schumann. In the Cello Concerto his partners are Bernard Haitink and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and in a selection of chamber works his violinist brother Renaud and the pianist Martha Argerich. "Bernard Haitink is a wonderfully inspiring guide," says Gautier, "and Martha Argerich carries me along on the composer's waves of romanticism and passion." - Universally recognised as the finest cellist of his generation, Gautier Capucon has a firm reputation as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He is a regular performer with the Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony, NHK Symphony, and at festivals such as Verbier and Lugano, and has won several awards at the ECHOS and the Victoires de la Musique.
