Martha Argerich (Great Pianists of the 20th Century)

Franz Liszt (Composer), Sergey Prokofiev (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Maurice Ravel (Composer), Johan Sebastian Bach (Composer), Riccardo Chailly (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Martha Argerich (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Martha Argerich
• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
• Composer: Franz Liszt, Sergey Prokofiev, Sergey Rachmaninov, Maurice Ravel, Johan Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000DBU3
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,306 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: 1.Allegro maestoso

2. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: 2a.Quasi adagio

3. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: 2b.Allegretto vivace- Allegro animato

4. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: 3.Allegro marziale animato

5. Piano Concerto In G: Allegramente

6. Piano Concerto In G: Adagio assai

7. Piano Concerto In G: Presto

8. Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Allegro ma non tanto

9. Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Intermezzo, Adagio

10. Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Finale, Alla breve

Disc: 2

1. Partita No.2 in C Minor, BWV 826: Sinfonia, Grave adagio - Andante

2. Partita No.2 in C Minor, BWV 826: Allemande

3. Partita No.2 in C Minor, BWV 826: Courante

4. Partita No.2 in C Minor, BWV 826: Sarabande

5. Partita No.2 in C Minor, BWV 826: Rondeaux

6. Partita No.2 in C Minor, BWV 826: Capriccio

7. Sonatine: 1.Modere

8. Sonatine: 2.Mouvement de menuet

9. Sonatine: 3.Anime

10. Gaspard de la nuit: 1.Ondine

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a little brandy, please..., September 20, 2000

By 

J. Anderson (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Martha Argerich (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) (Audio CD)

The C Minor Paritita is beautifully played, sometimes I'm not sure who Argerich IS, but in the end, it's beautiful. I recently heard Angela Hewitt's Bach, incidentally, and it's surpassing. The Liszt is revolutionary, however much it really is a concerto one can do without. And this is one of the finest versions of the Prokofiev 3rd around! The third movement gets all of Argerich's natural rhythmic attention, that stupendous, measured propulsion that makes her art so dangerous! There is an earlier Ravel Concerto with Berlin and Abbado, not this one, with a more perceptively drawn second movement- I still have it on cassette! can't seem to find a CD edition of it- better than this one, but this one's easily the best around, without a doubt! Argerich's play with Ravel's ingenious rhythms is natural like walking, or spinning. The Gaspard is the finest recording in this collection, and worth twice the price of it! She's a pianist made for Ravel! I remember playing the Sonatine in college- marvelous piece with a memorable miniature for a second movement; Argerich knows the braveness of Ravel's kingdom, and now so does everybody else. There is nothing in these two discs to disappoint you. I listen to them often, and find I often want a brandy afterward -something to calm, and share the lingering.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Once in a lifetime--if you're lucky, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Martha Argerich (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) (Audio CD)

Argerich is a biological sport, a flat-out stunning miracle. Her Bach on this CD is naked and powerful, the Rachmaninov upstages all other versions, the ferociously witty Prokofiev is all hers. Her Ravel is other-worldly--under her hands the piano surpasses itself in colors and textures. No one else can play legato--or anything else--like she does. Don't miss her recent CD of the Chopin concerti (Dutoit conducting).

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Bach to Rach - stunning value for money, May 3, 2000

By 

Tsang Shek Yiu "joetsang" (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Martha Argerich (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) (Audio CD)

Fans of Argerich should have already got most of the original recordings in this compilation set. The only question is, is this a representative compilation of Argerich's pianistic art, and can it serve as a good introduction to Argerich for those who are not familiar with her?

When you think of it as a compilation set which excludes her chamber works, then it is as close to a "best of" as you can imagine, subject to the constraint of a 2-disc set. Her Rach 3 and Prokofiev 3 are without peer. Her Ravel and Liszt 1 are also among the best available. May be she's not known as a Bach specialist, but her Partita No.2 is music to my ears (don't miss DG's reissue of her all-Bach recording, if you haven't got it).

This is not just a 5-star issue. It is a must have. No exaggeration, IT IS A MUST HAVE!