{"id":39505,"date":"2024-02-27T14:49:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T13:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/0dde7626-c349-461a-8e5e-d5be9af6c915"},"modified":"2024-02-27T15:41:13","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T14:41:13","slug":"martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings\/","title":{"rendered":"Martha Argerich: the pianist’s best recordings"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Freya Parr\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at 13:49 PM<\/p>

\n\n

With a long and varied performance behind her, the great Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich has a wealth of top-tier recordings behind her. BBC Music Magazine <\/em>has reviewed most \u2013\u00a0if not all \u2013\u00a0of these over the years, so we’ve picked out some of the best Martha Argerich recordings to get you started.<\/p>

The best Martha Argerich recordings<\/h2>
Argerich plays Chopin (1965)<\/h3>
Only 24 when she was captured playing at Abbey Road, shortly after winning the 1965 Warsaw Chopin competition and shortly before she signed to Deutsche Grammophon (hence it taking EMI almost 35 years to allow it to appear), Martha Argerich<\/strong><\/a> performs with such white-hot intensity that it scarcely feels like a studio recording.<\/p>
Her volcanic energy can leave you scrambling to keep up, but the Third Sonata is breathtaking in its spontaneity, and the Mazurkas are richly imbued with Polish spirit.<\/p>
Read the full Argerich plays Chopin review here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>
<\/div><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Martha Argerich and Friends: Live from the Lugano Festival (2013)<\/h3><p>‘Argerich herself leads off here, in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/ludwig-van-beethoven\"><strong>Beethoven<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s First Piano Concerto, displaying suppleness, rhythmic power, structural majesty and intimacy of inflection. This performance has Classical poise and unforced vitality, enhanced by an <em>opera buffa<\/em> humour all the more amusing for its impeccable elegance,’ wrote our reviewer Jeremy Siepmann.<\/p><p>‘After outstanding performances of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/maurice-ravel\"><strong>Ravel<\/strong><\/a> Violin Sonata and of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/claude-debussy\"><strong>Debussy<\/strong><\/a> <em>Petite Suite<\/em> on the third CD come two laugh-aloud demonstrations of the sheer, contagious fun that so-called classical music can provide, and the humour rests as much with the performers as with the music. Argerich and Lilya Zilberstein\u2019s inspired caricature of incompetent pianists (in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/camille-saint-sa%C3%ABns\"><strong>Saint-Sa\u00ebns<\/strong><\/a>) is hilarious \u2013 indeed the performance overall is unsurpassed in my experience.’<\/p><p>Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/chamber\/argerich-and-friends-sept-14\/\"><strong>Martha Argerich and Friends: Live from the Lugano Festival review here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Martha Argerich and Friends Live from the Lugano Festival 2012\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/6VWZP24FFlqKqepYhSwJC2?si=RmtPVW3NQryrbCs5Bftu6g&utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tchaikovsky\/Prokofiev (1984)<\/h3><p>‘This is a marvellous disc. Both of these warhorses of the concerto repertoire are given performances of distinction’, wrote Jan Smaczny. ‘Martha Argerich and Charles Dutoit take a spacious, richly Romantic view of the Piano Concerto; Nathan Milstein and Claudio Abbado combine exhilarating verve and aristocratic eloquence in what must rate as one of the best renditions of the Violin Concerto available on record.’<\/p><p>‘Classic live 1977 performances, throughout which Argerich\u2019s lightning reflexes create pianistic whirls of virtuosity \u2013 and somehow she still manages to hit all the right notes’, our reviewer Julian Haylock added, when he reviewed the disc as a reissue.<\/p><p>Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/martha-argerich\/\"><strong>Tchaikovsky\/Prokofiev review<\/strong><\/a> here.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 \/ Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4qVnji7PelY8PyKuqgJc2Q?si=pwC_NpbCQbeeARLxS8hXKw&utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> Music for Two Pianos (2008)<\/h3><p>‘Having quit the lists as a solo pianist, Martha Argerich has invented an equally brilliant career for herself as a chamber player, often with the young prot\u00e9g\u00e9s she performs with at the Lugano Festival. Two of those \u2013 Lilya Zilberstein and Gabriela Montero \u2013 play on this double disc, which is further evidence of her fertile musical influence’, wrote our reviewer Michael Church.<\/p><p>Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/miscellaneous\/martha-argerich-music-two-pianos\/\"><strong>Music for two pianos review here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Music for Two Pianos\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4tz3Zja4kIiXfWMrWSBdGg?si=v4nC5kiVQ3eX-tlEZPTPmg&utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/20-greatest-operas-all-time\"><strong>The 20 Greatest Pianists of all time<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> Mozart Piano Concertos Nos 25 & 20 (2014)<\/h3><p>‘This is a really fine performance, with impeccably judged tempos in all three movements, and great playing from the Orchestra Mozart, which was formed by Abbado some ten years ago,’ wrote our reviewer Misha Donat. ‘Argerich’s playing is full of both unforced poetry and eloquence, as well as commanding authority where needed.’<\/p><p><strong>Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/monthly-choice\/mozart-4\/\">Mozart Piano Concertos Nos 25 & 20 review here<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Mozart: Piano Concerto No.25 In C Major K.503; Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor K.466 (Live)\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/0qaKU40MMozwaieNtpUVmY?si=qMQcTwvsSmW0WDM0ba90Hw&utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/article\/10-piano-concertos-you-may-not-know\"><strong>10 piano concertos you may not know<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shostakovich (2018)<\/h3><p>‘This is Martha Argerich\u2019s third recording of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/dmitri-shostakovich\"><strong>Shostakovich<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s First Piano Concerto \u2013 and I can confidently say the best,’ wrote our reviewer Daniel Jaff\u00e9. ‘Argerich uses her interpretative alchemy to transform <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/topic\/dmitri-shostakovich\"><strong>Shostakovich<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s generic gestures into expressive gold. The performance is by turns perky, alert, brooding, and ultimately \u2013 for all its breezy neo-classicism \u2013 disquieting.’<\/p><p>Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/concerto\/martha-argerich-third-and-best-recording-shostakovichs-piano-concerto-no-1\/\"><strong>Martha Argerich Shostakovich review here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Shostakovich: Concerto In C Minor For Piano, Trumpet And String Orchestra, Symphony No. 9\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4qeQn7qo0Okcgx7hInVE31?si=7RhYM0oATYyjX_rQr2Fxtw&utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/greatest-piano-concertos-all-time\/\"><strong>The greatest piano concertos of all time<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> <strong>Chopin Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 (1999)<\/strong><\/h3><p>‘Drive and muscularity are tempered with the most persuasive, caressing gestures in playing whose authority of utterance and integrity of vision almost silence criticism. Every note \u2013 even the few where Argerich\u2019s constantly inspired and imaginative interpretation verges on eccentricity \u2013 shines with purpose’, wrote our reviewer Christopher Wood.<\/p><p>Read the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/reviews\/orchestral\/chopin-104\/\"><strong>Chopin Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 review here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/14TdcHlWqeO5tOG9TGr1eh?si=YTzmt3qXR-KZerlYeEqRfg&utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Freya Parr Published: Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at 13:49 PM With a long and varied performance behind her, the great Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich has a wealth of top-tier recordings behind her. BBC Music Magazine has reviewed most \u2013\u00a0if not all \u2013\u00a0of these over the years, so we’ve picked out some of the best […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":39506,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings.jpg",2362,1889,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings-300x240.jpg",300,240,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings-768x614.jpg",768,614,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings-1024x819.jpg",800,640,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings-1536x1228.jpg",1536,1228,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/02\/martha-argerich-the-pianists-best-recordings-2048x1638.jpg",2048,1638,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Freya Parr Published: Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at 13:49 PM With a long and varied performance behind her, the great Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich has a wealth of top-tier recordings behind her. BBC Music Magazine has reviewed most \u2013\u00a0if not all \u2013\u00a0of these over the years, so we’ve picked out some of the best…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/39505"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}