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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can't imagine what the recording engineer thought when he heard Martha Argerich begin to play, although the CD notes give some description of his awe. Her playing is so intenstly imaginative, bold and absorbing. When she made this recording she was a young woman, and she must have known that her skills were rather unique. It is impossible to describe this disc adequately, you simply have to hear it. No other performer relishes the small Mazurkas like Argerich does here (what a pity there are only three!) Apparently she won a special award at the Chopin Piano Competition for her mazurka playing, and she fully deserved it. I have Rubinstein's recording of these works (also made in the mid '60s), and as good as it is, this stands head and shoulders above it.
The Nocturne, presumably also a part of Argerich's competition program, is like none other. The soft, gently melody at the opening actually gains something when played this quickly, and the stormy interlude is over before you know it has begun thanks to her extremely quick rendition. In the hands of any other performer this type of playing would probably massacre the Nocturne, but here it sounds so intense, so melancholy as to be beautiful. The Sonata is also excellent (although the somewhat boomy piano sound is a little hard to listen to at times here). The Polonaise is tossed off with aplomb, virtuosic sparks flying, and making a marvellous conclusion to a breathtaking release.
The Nocturne, presumably also a part of Argerich's competition program, is like none other. The soft, gently melody at the opening actually gains something when played this quickly, and the stormy interlude is over before you know it has begun thanks to her extremely quick rendition. In the hands of any other performer this type of playing would probably massacre the Nocturne, but here it sounds so intense, so melancholy as to be beautiful. The Sonata is also excellent (although the somewhat boomy piano sound is a little hard to listen to at times here). The Polonaise is tossed off with aplomb, virtuosic sparks flying, and making a marvellous conclusion to a breathtaking release.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In the absence of a full DVD or CD of Martha's winning programme in the 1965 Chopin piano competition, this is about as close as you can get to March 1965 (check out her performance of the op.53 polonaise on youtube!)
The performances are full of fire and passion, amazingly powerful for such a frail-looking young woman with (at that time) small hands, but poetry and introspection are also present when required.
The only slight downside is the recording, which compared to the DG take of a virtually identical programme a couple of years later, is a bit boomy and not 100% "clean" - one would have expected a little more from EMI, especially at Abbey Road.
That apart, one hell of a CD!
The performances are full of fire and passion, amazingly powerful for such a frail-looking young woman with (at that time) small hands, but poetry and introspection are also present when required.
The only slight downside is the recording, which compared to the DG take of a virtually identical programme a couple of years later, is a bit boomy and not 100% "clean" - one would have expected a little more from EMI, especially at Abbey Road.
That apart, one hell of a CD!
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although not a connoisseur but, neverthless, appreciative of fine classical music, I believe this performance by Martha Argerich to be, without doubt, the most exceptional I have heard and is comparable with any top virtuoso. It is no wonder that this highly talented lady has achieved so much.
Considering that this recording was originally made over 45 years ago, I personally cannot fault the sound quality and, to me, it is just as if I were listening to a live broadcast by this magnificent pianist. Close your eyes, and it is easy to visualise a beautiful young lady in her mid-twenties, with raven-coloured hair, seated at the piano in a dress with white spots (as depicted on the sleeve) flawlessly producing this wonderful sound.
The musical attributes of this lady are beyond description and I imagine that all of her performances were, and still are, of such excellent quality.
Considering that this recording was originally made over 45 years ago, I personally cannot fault the sound quality and, to me, it is just as if I were listening to a live broadcast by this magnificent pianist. Close your eyes, and it is easy to visualise a beautiful young lady in her mid-twenties, with raven-coloured hair, seated at the piano in a dress with white spots (as depicted on the sleeve) flawlessly producing this wonderful sound.
The musical attributes of this lady are beyond description and I imagine that all of her performances were, and still are, of such excellent quality.
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