More world-class chamber music from Argerich and Co.
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 04/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First off, the quoted review from the Guardian is a little misleading. Martha Argerich's participation in the latest installment of summer music from the Lugano Festival isn't significantly greater than in the previous six installments. Moreover, she continues to favor four-hand and two-piano music, much of it transcriptions. This oddity has characterized every one of these excellent chamber music collections. Their level of musicianship remains so high that one can't complain. Still, I doubt that the rest of the world adores two-piano music to the same extent. To add to my annoyance, half of the two-piano works don't even feature Argerich.
Before I add any other comments, here's the complete program for these three generously filled mid-priced CDs:
Arensky:
Piano Quintet in D Major, Op. 51
Lilya Zilberstein (piano), Dora Schwarzberg (violin), Lucia Hall (violin), Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg (viola), Mark Drobinsky (cello)
Dvorak:
Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C Major, Op. 46 No. 1
Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)
Slavonic Dance No. 12 in D-flat major, Op. 72 No. 4
Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)
Slavonic Dance No. 7 in C minor, Op. 46 No. 7
Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)
Slavonic Dance No. 10 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 2
Lily Maisky (piano), Karin Lechner (piano)
Janacek:
Concertino
Martha Argerich (piano), Lucia Hall (violin), Alissa Margulis (violin), Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg (viola), Corrado Giuffredi (clarinet), Zora Slokar (horn), Vincent Godel (bassoon)
Mozart:
Andante with 5 Variations in G for Piano Duet, K501
Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
Piazzólla:
Cuarto Estaciones Porteñas
(arranged by José Bragato)
Alexandre Gurning (piano), Alissa Margulis (violin), Alexandre Debrus (cello)
Tre tanghi
(transcribed by Eduardo Hubert) - 3 minutos con la realidad, Oblivion, Libertango
Eduardo Hubert (piano), Martha Argerich (piano)
Pletnev:
Fantasia Elvetica
Martha Argerich (piano), Alexander Mogilewsky (piano)
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Mikhail Pletnev
Rachmaninov:
Fantaisie-tableaux (Suite No. 1) Op. 5
Lilya Zilberstein (piano), Martha Argerich (piano)
Ravel:
Introduction & Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet
(version for 2 pianos by the composer)
Giorgia Tomassi (piano), Alessandro Stella (piano)
Saint-Saëns:
Scherzo for 2 Pianos, Op. 87
Lilya Zilberstein, Akane Sakai (pianos)
Schumann:
Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121
Renaud Capuçon (violin), Martha Argerich (piano)
Shostakovich:
Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8
Lily Maisky (piano), Alissa Margulis (violin), Mischa Maisky (cello)
Because Argerich and friends are serious about the neglected reaches of chamber music, her Lugano programs always feature unusual repertoire. But this is the first installment in which there are no acknowledged masterpieces besides the first item on CD 1, Mozart's four-hand Andante and Variations K. 501, a seven-minute work performed with ex-husband Stephen Kovacevich. Aiming at a coterie audience feels a bit self-defeating. Speaking personally, I found several rarities, particularly the Arensky Piano Quintet, a second-rate bore, while the Schumann Violin Sonata No. 2, represents the composer in a strange light -- this sonata came so late in Schumann's career that it is wild, disorganized, and ultimately chaotic, as a result of his lamentable mental deterioration. But Argerich loves it and has recorded it again with Gideon Kremer; I must say there are many haunting things about it.
On the ohter hand, it's good to have the Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 1, to go along with Argerich's commerical recording of the more famous second trio. Although a youthful work from the 17-year-old composer, it's full of characteristic touches. Rachmaninov's Suite No. 1 for two pianos isn't nearly as good as the Suite No. 2, but the performance from Argerich and Lilya Zilberstein is pure magic and not to be missed. The same goes, despsite my grumbling, for all the two-piano pieces; the arraangement of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro is just as effective as its original, hauntingly atmospheric instrumentation for harp, strings, and winds.
The thrid CD turns out to be the most entertaining. It dips into Argentine music, as Argerich likes to do occasionally. In this case, we get two vivid works from Astor Piazzolla that the crowd happily cheers. One glaring ommision from the Lugano series has been new music, but here we get the sizabel Fantasia elvetica from the Russian pianist turned conductor and now composer, Mikhail Pletnev. His "Swiss Fantasy," based on folk tunes and nature sounds, including cows in the alpine meadows and oom-pah-pah bands in the village, was written in 2006 to honor his second homeland -- Pletnev resides in Lugano. It's a glittering, exuberant, and very conservative work that prominently features a concerto-like two-piano part for Argerich and Alexander Mogilewsky, with the composer as conductor. I found it surprisingly entertaining.
In all, the installment from summer, 2008, is as fulfilling as all the previous ones. EMI's live recordings are exemplary, too. Every serious lover of chamber music should try and acquire them all."
Magnificant recording!
J. Chang | USA | 08/31/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I browsed the CD racks and found this recording by surprise. More to my surprise, it features some transcriptions, contemporary composers whom I love, like Piazzolla and Janacek. I love the whole recording, esp. I am a pianist who does solo, 4 hand, and 2 piano repertoire. I just wish I could get my hands on those beautifully transcribed works!!! Where can I find them??? Any tips? BTW, I highly recommend this set. Martha is still as awsome as whole time!!!"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1