Live From the Lugano Festival 2008

As usually in the last summers, Martha Argerich gathers her musical friends in Lugano (Switzerland) to perform for three weeks under the title "Progetto Martha Argerich". Celebrities and new-comers share the stage and deliver actually moments of great music.Iin partnership with EMI Classics, the most ardent moments of the festival are issued in a 3-CD box set. A lot of musical fireworks, rarities and celebrated gems flow from the Swiss stage. Along with Argerich herself (who plays at least half of the recording time in this set) are featured consummate artists such as Stephen Kovacevich, Renaud Capucon, Lilya Zilberstein or Mischa Maisky and a plethora of young names.Among highlights of this edition I would note firts the sparkling "Fantasia elvetica" for two pianos and orchestra by Mikhail Pletnev (who conducted Orchestra della Swizzera Italiana with Martha Argerich and Alexander Mogilevsky as soloists). Te chamber section is represented by the exotic "Tre tanghi" by Astor Piazzolla (where Argerich is paired by Eduardo Hubert in these two pianos gems) or the amazing Concertino by Janacek, where Argerich takes the solo part too. The second violin sonata by Schumann gets a refined interpretation given by young French super star Renaud Capucon and - yes! - the inexhaustible Martha Argerich.Don't miss this se! You'll be fully satisfied!

First off, the quoted review from the Guardian is a little misleading. Martha Argerich's participation in the latest installment of summer music from the Lugano Festival isn't significantly greater than in the previous six installments. Moreover, she continues to favor four-hand and two-piano music, much of it transcriptions. This oddity has characterized every one of these excellent chamber music collections. Their level of musicianship remains so high that one can't complain. Still, I doubt that the rest of the world adores two-piano music to the same extent. To add to my annoyance, half of the two-piano works don't even feature Argerich.Before I add any other comments, here's the complete program for these three generously filled mid-priced CDs:Arensky: Piano Quintet in D Major, Op. 51Lilya Zilberstein (piano), Dora Schwarzberg (violin), Lucia Hall (violin), Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg (viola), Mark Drobinsky (cello)Dvorak: Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C Major, Op. 46 No. 1Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)Slavonic Dance No. 12 in D-flat major, Op. 72 No. 4Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)Slavonic Dance No. 7 in C minor, Op. 46 No. 7Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)Slavonic Dance No. 10 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 2Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)Janacek: ConcertinoMartha Argerich (piano), Lucia Hall (violin), Alissa Margulis (violin), Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg (viola), Corrado Giuffredi (clarinet), Zora Slokar (horn), Vincent Godel (bassoon)Mozart: Andante with 5 Variations in G for Piano Duet, K501Martha Argerich, Stephen KovacevichPiazzólla: Cuarto Estaciones Porteñas(arranged by José Bragato)Alexandre Gurning (piano), Alissa Margulis (violin), Alexandre Debrus (cello)Tre tanghi(transcribed by Eduardo Hubert) - 3 minutos con la realidad, Oblivion, LibertangoEduardo Hubert (piano), Martha Argerich (piano)Pletnev: Fantasia ElveticaMartha Argerich (piano), Alexander Mogilewsky (piano)Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Mikhail PletnevRachmaninov: Fantaisie-tableaux (Suite No. 1) Op. 5Lilya Zilberstein (piano), Martha Argerich (piano)Ravel: Introduction & Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet(version for 2 pianos by the composer)Giorgia Tomassi (piano), Alessandro Stella (piano)Saint-Saëns: Scherzo for 2 Pianos, Op. 87Lilya Zilberstein, Akane Sakai (pianos)Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121Renaud Capuçon (violin), Martha Argerich (piano)Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8Lily Maisky (piano), Alissa Margulis (violin), Mischa Maisky (cello)Because Argerich and friends are serious about the neglected reaches of chamber music, her Lugano programs always feature unusual repertoire. But this is the first installment in which there are no acknowledged masterpieces besides the first item on CD 1, Mozart's four-hand Andante and Variations K. 501, a seven-minute work performed with ex-husband Stephen Kovacevich. Aiming at a coterie audience feels a bit self-defeating. Speaking personally, I found several rarities, particularly the Arensky Piano Quintet, a second-rate bore, while the Schumann Violin Sonata No. 2, represents the composer in a strange light -- this sonata came so late in Schumann's career that it is wild, disorganized, and ultimately chaotic, as a result of his lamentable mental deterioration. But Argerich loves it and has recorded it again with Gideon Kremer; I must say there are many haunting things about it.On the ohter hand, it's good to have the Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 1, to go along with Argerich's commerical recording of the more famous second trio. Although a youthful work from the 17-year-old composer, it's full of characteristic touches. Rachmaninov's Suite No. 1 for two pianos isn't nearly as good as the Suite No. 2, but the performance from Argerich and Lilya Zilberstein is pure magic and not to be missed. The same goes, despsite my grumbling, for all the two-piano pieces; the arraangement of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro is just as effective as its original, hauntingly atmospheric instrumentation for harp, strings, and winds.The thrid CD turns out to be the most entertaining. It dips into Argentine music, as Argerich likes to do occasionally. In this case, we get two vivid works from Astor Piazzolla that the crowd happily cheers. One glaring ommision from the Lugano series has been new music, but here we get the sizabel Fantasia elvetica from the Russian pianist turned conductor and now composer, Mikhail Pletnev. His "Swiss Fantasy," based on folk tunes and nature sounds, including cows in the alpine meadows and oom-pah-pah bands in the village, was written in 2006 to honor his second homeland -- Pletnev resides in Lugano. It's a glittering, exuberant, and very conservative work that prominently features a concerto-like two-piano part for Argerich and Alexander Mogilewsky, with the composer as conductor. I found it surprisingly entertaining.In all, the installment from summer, 2008, is as fulfilling as all the previous ones. EMI's live recordings are exemplary, too. Every serious lover of chamber music should try and acquire them all.

I browsed the CD racks and found this recording by surprise. More to my surprise, it features some transcriptions, contemporary composers whom I love, like Piazzolla and Janacek. I love the whole recording, esp. I am a pianist who does solo, 4 hand, and 2 piano repertoire. I just wish I could get my hands on those beautifully transcribed works!!! Where can I find them??? Any tips? BTW, I highly recommend this set. Martha is still as awsome as whole time!!!

This is the fifth or sixth box from Martha Argerich's Lugano festival. It's a winning formula, chamber music mostly with piano and often including some two-piano transcriptions.This set is as well delivered as many earlier ones. There's plenty of spontaneous warmth in the act of creation so if the programme appeals you won't hesitate. I must admit I enjoyed some of the other programmes more - the 2007 box included some sparkling things by Ravel and Bartok for example, where here to be honest I am less captivated by the selection. Why, for example, play Shostakovich's rather studenty first piano trio when the second one is such a total masterpiece and still not enough appreciated ? I guess the answer is that the Lugano audience like slightly softer-edged music - and that perspective may include yours, reader, of course.The technical side of this remains at a high level and there is undoubtedly plenty of fun, especially in the Piazolla on disc 3, with the occasional touch of poetry in say the Ravel Introduction and Allegro.

Martha Argerich ne voulait plus jouer en soliste, seule, unique, vedette.... La voilà qui réunit depuis presque vingt ans des amis, des vieux de la vieille, des jeunes, prometteurs exceptionnels, des complices, tous redevenus étudiants, revenus à l'étude commune, et non ces prestigieux interprètes, comme on en entend dans tant de festivals, réunis par hasard ou pour l'occasion d'un ou deux concerts, qui s'adaptent, après quelques répétitions, et "sortent" une jolie "prestation" personnelle, agréable bien sûr, en général, mais rarement aboutie, jamais complète dans l'achèvement du travail. Ici, depuis le premier enregistrement jusqu'au plus récent, la même rigueur de travail, le même plaisir est partagé, montré et transmis aux auditeurs.De même, on pouvait s'attendre à des programmes "classique" , toujours les mêmes pièces, connues, repassées, répertoriées ... Cela n'aurait sans doute pas tenu dix ans! Non! ils ont travaillé, préparé, répété, des répertoires nouveaux, comme pour un examen, comme pour ... un concert! mais tout neuf, tout vif, tout frais pensé.Chacun de ces coffrets, à sa façon est "frais", vivant, vif, extraordinairement énergisé par la maîtrise et le professionnalisme de tous, mais aussi tenu par le lien sensible de l'amitié et de l'affection. Cela donne des merveilles de conception, de sensibilité, de recréation.Le choix des programmes se montre d'une diversité régulière, non pas uniquement des classiques, rebattus,mais pas mal de classiques, connus, oui, mais pas tous, mais alors! vivants, comme neufs! à côtés de morceaux qui DEVRAIENT être des classiques, œuvres méconnues, ou mal comprises, œuvres connues mais passées de mode, œuvres découvertes et que les interprètes rendent immédiatement claires et sensiblesOn retrouve, on découvre donc et c'est un bonheur d'enregistrement qui apparaît à chaque minute de ces coffrets. On comprend vite à quoi cela tient tout ensemble: une reine, c'est cela: une personnalité qui règne sans gouverner, qui s'efface, qui quitte le premier plan pour d'autant mieux rayonner en chacun de ses semblables, nous.

Mooie uitvoering, en prijwaard

欲しかったCDを入手出来感謝しております。演奏内容も最高です。

Martha Argerich ist ein Phänomen, eine wahrhaft erstaunliche und furiose Musikerin mit faszinierender Sensibilität und Ausdruckskraft. Jedes Mal ist es ein grandioses Erlebnis, sie zu hören.