Argerich - Prokiev And Ravel Piano Concertos - Abbado - Berlin Philharmonic on 180g Import LP

A win at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 1965, at age 24, officially put Martha Argerich on the musical map. An exciting and mercurial artist, Argerich has recorded extensively throughout a career that has encompassed works by Bach through Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Chopin and Bartók.

Here, the multiple Grammy-winner and 2012 Gramophone Hall of Fame inducted Argentinian pianist is joined by the Berlin Philharmonic and conductor Claudio Abbado for a performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Ravel's Piano Concerto in G. 180g vinyl pressing from Clearaudio.

"Prokofiev's great Third Piano Concerto has been Martha Argerich's signature piece since she won competitions with it at the age of 16 in 1957. If you're used to Bryon Janis' reading on Mercury or have never heard Argerich play Prokofieff, you're in for a shock. The only other artist I can think of who played the Third with this kind of energy at this breakneck tempo was Prokofiev himself, and Prokofiev's performance is all speed and slop. Despite its power and pace, Argerich's is far more agile, deeply thought out, and various - built upon the precise articulation of rhythmic and dynamic contrasts. Be they fortissississimo or pianissississimo, presto or adagio, every note, every chord, every bravura run and leaping flourish is sounded with passion and precision. It's as if Argerich is uttering one long, complex, fully articulate sentence in one long thrilling breath. Abbado and the Berlin Phil keep up with her, though it often seems (as it often does with distinctive pianists in distinctive performances) as if Argerich is conducting as well as soloing. Full credit goes to DG's engineers, whose close miking of the piano perfectly serves the clarity of line and muscular poetry of Argerich's sensational reading. A must-own disc." - Jonathan Valin, The Absolute Sound/October 2011

"As far as I am concerned, Martha Argerich is not just one of the greatest pianists, or just ‘of our time’. She’s one of the greatest musicians, period." - Mischa Maisky

Musicians:
- Prokofiev (composer)
- Ravel (composer)
- Claudio Abbado (conductor)
- Martha Argerich (piano)
- Berlin Philharmonic

Argerich - Prokofiev And Ravel Piano Concertos - Abbado - Berlin Philharmonic Track Listing:

Prokofiev/Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
1. Satz: Andante - Allegro
2. Satz: Thema - Andantino
a. Variation: L'istesso tempo
b. Variation: Allegro
c. Variation: Allegro moderato
d. Variation: Andantino meditativo
e. Variation: Allegro giusto Thema - L'istesso tempo
3. Satz: Allegro ma non troppo
Ravel/Piano Concerto in G Major
4. Satz: Allegramente
5. Satz: Adagio assai
6. Satz: Presto