Customer Reviews

New Year's Eve Concert 1992 [VHS]

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Being an avid Martha Argerich addict, I anxiously awaited the arrival of this video. I was not disappointed. With so few of Argerich's performances available on video, this one was certainly worth the wait. Her exhilarating performance of the Richard Strauss Burleske is a breathtaking display of refined technical prowess, coupled with an intensely refined musicality which is in true Argerich form. Strauss composed the Burleske in 1885-6 for his mentor, the pianist-conductor Hans von Bülow. The difficult solo part proved to be too demanding and von Bülow declared it unpianistic and refused to devote the necessary time to it. Finally, in 1890, the piece was performed by pianist Eugen d'Albert. At his request the score was cut and the solo part simplified. No such concessions are necessary today for a virtuoso like Martha Argerich. Her modest entrance on stage of Berlin's Philharmonie Theatre is overwhelming and electrifying. When she sits down to play she is at once in control of the instrument. After a brief orchestral introduction Argerich launches into the theme with energised brilliance. Her opening chords, followed by a cascading passage of technical bravura, is breathtaking. Every single note speaks under her fingers and she produces a gigantic, full sound from the Steinway. Her soft playing is intimate, yet she projects a tone which fills every corner of the hall. Throughout the performance one is aware of her almost uncanny genius, her exciting temperament and, above all, her extraordinary musical insight. Argherich is a generous performer and although her performance on this video is rather brief (the Burleske lasts all of 18 minutes), it is extremely rewarding. The sound quality is excellent and there are some fantastic close-ups of her hands, taken from the side and above. The video also allows the viewer to see her face, which is intensely expressive during her playing. Her interaction with the orchestra and conductor Claudio Abbado is also captured beautifully, allowing the viewer to have a very real experience of the concert.

This video is a recording of the Berlin Philharmonic's New Year's Eve concert in 1992, the programme being devoted fully to the music of Richard Strauss. Apart from Argerich's performance of the Burleske, other works featured are the orchestral tone-poem 'Don Juan', the delightful 'Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche' as well as the Trio and Finale from the opera 'Der Rosenkavalier'. The latter features acclaimed divas Kathleen Battle, Renée Fleming and Frederica von Stade, joined by Andreas Schmidt in the Finale. The singing is absolutely superb and beautifully polished, with the Berlin Philharmonic giving its full support.

This video is of the highest quality and is well worth having in any collection. You cannot go wrong.

I have played this piece with orchestra and happen to agree withn everything the reviewer above said with one exception. For my taste, the tempo Argerich took for this "Concerto" was way too fast. A lot of the grace and elegance was lost at the fast clip she played.