Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

Sergei Rachmaninov (Artist), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Artist), Riccardo Chailly (Artist), Martha Argerich (Artist), Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Artist), Kirill Kondrashin (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 1995)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000041DF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,643 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #4 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( A ) > Argerich, Martha
  #60 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > Composers > Rachmaninov, Sergei
  #61 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( R ) > Rachmaninov, Sergei

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

This is madness in action. Martha Argerich's Rachmaninoff Third is the fastest and most physically exciting you'll ever hear. She's recorded live, and the balances are a little strange as a result. You can also tell that Riccardo Chailly and his orchestra are having a hell of time trying to keep up with her, while anticipating what she's about to do next--but so what? This is as close as you can come to an experience of spontaneous combustion, and survive. The Tchaikovsky is, if possible, even wilder, with quite a few missed notes. But with an artist like Argerich, you simply can't judge the performance one note at a time. So go ahead: live dangerously. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scorcher!, December 11, 1999

By	Eddy Oquendo (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Rachmaninoff's piano concerto number three has never attained the popularity of his more lush, second concerto, but it's his most monumental. It recieved proper reverence in the movie "Shine," as it is, at the apex of the piano repertoire.

While I own several, worthy recordings of this masterpiece, Argerich's version, with Chailly and the RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin, is my favorite. This is a no-holds-barred interpretation, with Martha rampaging through this monster like a woman possessed. She flexes her virtuosic muscles with Olympian authority, brutal speed, and the brashness of youth. This is no cold, pedagogical rendition, my friends; this is an emotionally charged, lustful orgy of notes! That's what romanticism is all about, isn't it? Just listen to the wild applause at the end, those people knew that they had witnessed magic!

The "live" aspect of this CD is a real plus, lending an air of occasion to the performance. "Live" recordings are difficult to engineer properly, but this effort is captured nicely, with a clear, "upfront," yet spacious sound. Great performances are much more pleasing when they're capably recorded.

Also on this disc is an excellent rendition of Tchaikovsky's (very popular) piano concerto number one, with Kondrashin. This performance is, likewise, well recorded. Argerich's blazing treatment of the final movement whips the audience into a thunderously jubilant appreciation for what they've just heard.

I mention audience reaction (twice) for good reason; listening to these efforts, I'm caught up in the passion of the moment in which they were recorded, and I feel as one with those lucky ticket-holders. You will too!

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love Martha !, March 8, 2001

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

By far my favorite recording of Rachmaninoff's 3rd, Martha rips into it with such passion and strength, capturing our hearts with her rendition of this flamboyant and magnificent concerto, that displays a pianists virtuosity and allows for some wild showmanship. Those that became familiar with the piece from seeing the film "Shine", should hear this performance ! Martha, with her stunning technique, plays it to the max.

On this CD you get an extravagantly emotional double bill, with a fabulous Tchaikovsky 1st as well. A melodic celebration of romanticism, it's here played with dazzling gusto.

These are live performance recordings from 1982 (Rachmaninoff) and 1980 (Tchaikovsky) and must have been quite a treat to witness, as her public appearances have been few and far between. She is peerless, a genius in all her glory, and as Bryce Morrison writes in his liner notes, "Argerich defies even whispered comparisons".

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars May not be for everyone, January 14, 2000

By A Customer

To me you can not get a better recording of the Rach 3. Her technique is above and beyond Horowitz and the speed is frightening at times. However I have to admit that Martha Argerich is not for everyone. Some of you who like the older schools of music, the more specific and riggid schools of piano, probably want to find someone else playing. Martha has some very unique musical ideas and does not follow all the markings exactly. This is a GREAT recording though.