Chopin: Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 2 / Dutoit, Argerich

Frédéric Chopin (Artist), Charles Dutoit (Artist), Martha Argerich (Artist), Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00000IWVP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,842 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #55 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Keyboard > Piano

Editorial Reviews

ARGERICH / DUTOIT / MONTREAL S. O. CHOPIN: PIANO CONCERTOS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the top recordings - Argerich at her best, November 21, 1999

By 

kreisleriana16 (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 2 / Dutoit, Argerich (Audio CD)

What a surprise to see Argerich on EMI! Hopefully this will only be the beginning. The Chopin displays not only her technique which is beyond belief but the musicianship which she also has in abundance. Her phrasing and dynamics are spectacular. Argerich knows exactly where to change the pace without being overly romantic. She also knows that when it is time to turn on the technical pyroworks she does so with ease.

After hearing her live performances on Philips of the Rachmoninoff 3rd and Tschikowsky's 1st there is little doubt in my mind that she is one of the outstanding pianists of our time. Her live performance a few years back of the Strauss Berlesque with the Berlin Philharmonic was stunning and left no doubt in my mind to that claim.

It is a rare combination to see one who is not only a great pianist but a great musician as well. It is almost like she has an uncanny feeling for this music.

Dutoit does a good job with the Orchestre du Montreal as always. Can we hope that Dutoit and Argerich will re-unite and make more recordings like this? (Interestingly enough both recorded for Polygram - DG and British Decca. Now they seem to have moved to EMI).

With so many excellent recordings now available of these two works this recording remains my first choice at the present time for recent releases.

24 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, August 13, 2004

By 

Canzone (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 2 / Dutoit, Argerich (Audio CD)

I usually like both Argerich and Dutoit, but EMI has not done either of them justice, and to me, Argerich sounds less involved than in other recordings. The real drawback, though, is the sound. Decca provided Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony with clear, open sound that made their recordings enjoyable. To me, EMI's sound here is indistinct, bordering on muddy at times. Orchestral detail is lost, and on a couple of occasions the piano just disappears behind the orchestra. I bought this recording expecting something special, but was quite disappointed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As dynamic as ever, but even more expressive now, July 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chopin: Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 2 / Dutoit, Argerich (Audio CD)

Martha Argerich has been known for an uncanny technique that is married to an unusually expressive style. Chopin, known for his improvisations, is best served by someone whose pianism and imagination match the spontaneity and singing of his music. Add the extreme beauty of the playing in the slow movements and in the ornamentated passages of these concertos and you have a very rare treat with these performances.