Martha Argerich

Advantages: Thrilling, daredevil chamber music performances from the legendary Martha Argerich and partner-in-crime Gidon Kremer.
Disadvantages: Violinist Kremer occasionally on the mannered, spastic side; only forty-three minutes of music.

...Ding! Ding! Ding! It's Fight Time! It’s the battle of the sonata duos! In one corner is the brash and adventuresome duo of Martha Argerich-Gidon Kremer, and in the other is the steely and confident team of Anne-Sophie Mutter-Lambert Orkis! Place your bets, the fight is about to begin... ...and ...the ... winner ... is...? ? ? Is this even a fair match? Or is this a case of pitting apples against oranges? BMWs against Benzes? First, a boring prologue. To those among my Kind Readers who remain sadly unaware of Martha Argerich (b. 1941), an Argentine pianist who renders mere words inadequate to describe her genius, this will serve as the briefest of introductions to her.++ Oh, but beware! With her wicked sorcery at the keyboard, she might just turn you into another zombiefied and submissively devoted... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Argerich's clarity of melodic line, striking colors and moods; thrilling, chilling, enchanting, arresting performances.
Disadvantages: Her Fantasiestucke may strike some as too rushed, less nuanced--or so I'm told.

...Too fast. Too sloppy. That's the sort of criticism some have leveled at Argentine-born pianist extraordinaire Martha Argerich (b. 1941), in live performances such as these, recorded in 1978 and 1979. In this 2000 release from EMI Classics, she makes short work of Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke (Opus 12) and Maurice Ravel's Sonatine, as well as the diabolical (in more senses than one) Gaspard de la Nuit. Indeed, these readings are nothing if not stunning. Perhaps too much so for some, particularly the Schumann. Personally, I like 'em the way she plays 'em here--bold, tempestuous, uninhibitedly feral, disturbing when called for, at times mellow and genteel--yes, the powerhouse pianist is fully capable of grace and delicacy. Of technical brilliance she certainly lacks none, but technically brilliant pianists practically pour out... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Brilliant, stirring, excitingly unpredictable, fresh performance; "genius" is not hyperbole in Argerich's case.
Disadvantages: Reflecting its LP origins, the CD lasts only 50' 16"!

...[NOTE: This review dates from January 2001, shortly after that personal musical milestone when I first heard Martha Argerich through this J. S. Bach recording--only to be blown away over to the next galaxy. I’ve edited the piece for clarity, but have not updated or altered the original tone.] Eureka! I have just discovered another great pianist! Goes by the name of Martha Argerich, ever heard of her? Well, for hermit-living-under-a-rock Philistine me, not till now! I’m only a few decades late, but I finally made her acquaintance recently, through a Toccata, a Partita, and an English Suite composed by my beloved J. S. Bach. All found on a CD purchased on the spur of the moment, music unheard, believing that Deutsche Grammophon Records could not be exaggerating when they included Martha Argerich in the re... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful