Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich, London Symphony Orchestra

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Franz Liszt (Composer), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Martha Argerich (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Martha Argerich
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Claudio Abbado
• Composer: Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt
• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GS1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,849 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

ARGERICH / ABBADO / LONDON S. O. CHOPIN / LISZT: PIANO CONCERTOS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definition of self-recommending?, December 15, 2000

By 

Michael Whincop (GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, QLD AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich, London Symphony Orchestra (Audio CD)

In Argerich's selective discography, her Chopin stands out. She has performed this concerto many times, and recently recorded it digitally with Dutoit for EMI. I frankly don't see a whole lot to separate them -- both are infused with Argerich's unique combination of impetuosity and repose. This is a masculine Chopin, not some salon charmer, strongly chorded, and virile and glittering in passage work. I cannot think of any other pianist who has played this work with such individuality. Abbado, too, is an excellent accompanist, alert and intelligent, despite the distinctly minor role he has in proceedings.

The Liszt has similar virtues, with a marvellous sense of ebb and flow. It really stakes out the virtues of this work as an inventive composition of the first-rate, rather than hollow virtuosity. What's so good about the Argerich performance is that although she dominates the work, one still feels acutely a sense of struggle and spontaneity that seems absent from today's young lions. Again, well accompanied. Well recorded, too. If you can't find the Argerich collection, this disk is a mandatory acquisition.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Majestic grandeur & quiet intimacy, November 21, 2005

By 

Classicalfan "Classicalfan" (Reston, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich, London Symphony Orchestra (Audio CD)

Argerich and Abbado, both recording in their youth, in 1968, have perfectly captured both the majestic grandeur of the allegro movements and the quiet intimacy of the adagios in these two piano concertos. I was extremely pleased at the clarity of the sound, especially given that this is an analog recording made more than 35 years ago. The balance between the orchestra and the soloist is one of the best that I have ever heard on the several versions of the Chopin Concerto that I have. I thoroughly enjoyed the Liszt as well. Argerich's scintillating style is a sheer pleasure to listen to and Abbado brings out the very best of the London Symphony Orchestra. The two, orchestra and soloist, complement each other perfectly. The outstanding sound quality of this recording may in part be due to the fact that it was recorded at Wahthamstow Town Hall, in the outskirts of London. According to the CD notes, this recording location was specifically chosen because the hall's acoustics have a high reputation. Recommended without reservation, and with complete enthusiasm.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful recording, April 16, 2004

By 

Brenda Jo Mengeling (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich, London Symphony Orchestra (Audio CD)

I like Argerich's Rachmaninoff, so I thought to try her Chopin, and I was not disappointed. She plays the Chopin concerto with both verve and lilting melody. It is a delight to listen to. The orchestra is up to Argerich's standards, as is the quality of the recording. It was hard to believe that this was an analog recording from the 1960s. The music of the Chopin concerto was more to my taste than the Liszt, but I still liked it very much; they are a good pairing on the CD.