Martha Argerich and Friends.
There are so many wonderful living pianists right now! Among them are Evgeny Kissin, Daniel Barenboim, Yuja Wang and many more. Yet one of my own great favorites is still Martha Argerich, who has been delighting audiences with her music for many years now.
Ms. Argerich has a series of recordings featuring music performed with her friends, as recorded in Lugano, Italy.
For last year, the repertoire of “Martha Argerich and Friends – Live from Lugano 2013” puts the piano at the center of the programming by focusing on piano duets and rarely performed and recorded compositions.
The repertoire moves from Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, Debussy, and Offenbach to Shostakovich. Among them is a very interesting and singular “Carnival of the Animals,” by Saint-Saëns – an arrangement for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet and percussion.
Here is the track Listing:
CD 1: Beethoven: Concerto No. 1, Op. 15; and Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 5, No. 2
CD 2: Respighi: Sonata P 110; Liszt: La lugubre Gondola S. 200; and Shostakovich: Sonata Op. 40
CD 3: Ravel: Sonata Op. Posth; Debussy: Petite suite; Offenbach: Gaîté parisienne; and Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals
Here is Martha Argerich with Cristina Marton in Debussy’s “Petite Suite” from the 17th of June, 2013 program:
And next, here is the amazing rehearsal in Lugano 2013 for Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan”, with Marta Argerich (piano), Lilya Zilberstein (piano), and Alexandre Debrus (cello)
Wonderful playing, Eh?
Tags: Martha Argerich, Lugano, Beethoven, Ravel, Offenbach, Debussy, Saint-Saëns
