Martha Argerich and Friends Live at the Lugano Festival 2013

What to say about this compilation ? I have been waiting for it with big expectations. I am not satisfied with the repertoire. I have many recordings of Beethoven's First Piano concerto for example, by Martha Argerich, but why on this Lugano CD-set again ? And Shostakovich's Cello Sonata ? I simply cannot listen to other pianist's performances of pieces I have heard by Martha before...Beethoven's cello sonata is also available on DG's CD...I would appreciate something more interesting, better choice of pieces, I mean... Lugano festival is full of interesting performances. Martha Argerich's fans do not need to listen to the same pieces again and again on several CD's.

Great artists doing good music like good friends. With Verbier, Lugano is one of the best festivals. Argerich is the best living pianist.:)

just wonderful like the rest of the series

Martha Argerich knows how to create a magic atmosphere when she performs, no matter what, when, where or with whom. Her total commitment to music enthralls r previous year festival. instantly the audience and pushes the partners to an incredibly high artistic level. In the last decade, The famous Argentine super-star pianist settled in Lugano a unique festival called Project Argerich where she invites her friends and protégés to make chamber music together. There are famous names in the programs and rising stars as well. Yearly, Argerich issues a 3-CD box set with the most significant artistic achievements in the previous year festival.Although there are several recorded versions with Argerich playing Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto, this one realized in the company of the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (under the baton of Hubert Soudant) it’s worth listening. It breathes the spontaneity and freshness of a live performance by a top-notch pianist with decades of stage experience. However, the joy of music-making in Martha’s interpretations here, cross the chamber gems included on these recordings too. Take for instance, the mighty Cello sonata by Beethoven where she is paired by Mischa Maisky or the lovely Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens. There are alos included some rarities to please all the tastes: a Violin sonata by Respighi or some transcriptions from Offenbach.Both the stage partners and world-wide fans will savor this recent installment at Argerich’s annual Lugano Festival and will be immersed in a fabulous atmosphere.

BeethovenのCello Sonata No.2の演奏が気に入りました。

Fabulous

特にベートーベンのＰＣ第1番の演奏が素晴らしい。この曲はブレンデルとレヴァイン・シカゴ響の録音が溌剌とした演奏で好きでしたがそれ以上のお気に入りとなりました。各フレーズをしっとりと聴かせるアルゲリッチのピアノは老いてますます深みを増してきました。　若手の演奏で、レスピーギのヴァイオリンソナタは初めて聴いた曲ですがとても良い曲で素晴らしい演奏です。オーディオ機器を最新のものにしましたが最近の優秀録音ＣＤはコンサートホールのＳ席で聴く音と変わらない音がします。

Martha Argerich ne voulait plus jouer en soliste, seule, unique, vedette.... La voilà qui réunit depuis presque vingt ans des amis, des vieux de la vieille, des jeunes, prometteurs exceptionnels, des complices, tous redevenus étudiants, revenus à l'étude commune, et non ces prestigieux interprètes, comme on en entend dans tant de festivals, réunis par hasard ou pour l'occasion d'un ou deux concerts, qui s'adaptent, après quelques répétitions, et "sortent" une jolie "prestation" personnelle, agréable bien sûr, en général, mais rarement aboutie, jamais complète dans l'achèvement du travail. Ici, depuis le premier enregistrement jusqu'au plus récent, la même rigueur de travail, le même plaisir est partagé, montré et transmis aux auditeurs.De même, on pouvait s'attendre à des programmes "classique" , toujours les mêmes pièces, connues, repassées, répertoriées ... Cela n'aurait sans doute pas tenu dix ans! Non! ils ont travaillé, préparé, répété, des répertoires nouveaux, comme pour un examen, comme pour ... un concert! mais tout neuf, tout vif, tout frais pensé.Chacun de ces coffrets, à sa façon est "frais", vivant, vif, extraordinairement énergisé par la maîtrise et le professionnalisme de tous, mais aussi tenu par le lien sensible de l'amitié et de l'affection. Cela donne des merveilles de conception, de sensibilité, de recréation.Le choix des programmes se montre d'une diversité régulière, non pas uniquement des classiques, rebattus,mais pas mal de classiques, connus, oui, mais pas tous, mais alors! vivants, comme neufs! à côtés de morceaux qui DEVRAIENT être des classiques, œuvres méconnues, ou mal comprises, œuvres connues mais passées de mode, œuvres découvertes et que les interprètes rendent immédiatement claires et sensiblesOn retrouve, on découvre donc et c'est un bonheur d'enregistrement qui apparaît à chaque minute de ces coffrets. On comprend vite à quoi cela tient tout ensemble: une reine, c'est cela: une personnalité qui règne sans gouverner, qui s'efface, qui quitte le premier plan pour d'autant mieux rayonner en chacun de ses semblables, nous.

The three-disc, three hour duration, compilation comprise highlights from the twelfth 'Progetto' (music festival) Martha Argerich. The specific Progetto took place during June and early July 2013 in Lugano and included a total of sixteen concerts. The aims of the Progetto since 2004 remain the same: to invite the most promising young musicians to take part in recitals, chamber and orchestral concerts and masterclasses with their older peers, under the aegis, involvement, and participation of Martha Argerich.The totality of the nine works present in the compilation by great or distinguished composers namely Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Shostakovich, Liszt, Offenbach, Camille Saint-Saens, and Ottorino Respighi are exercises in excellence in music quality and rendition while they impact on you a feeling of invigorating beauty.Martha Argerich participates in four works:We listen to her in a truly stellar rendition in Beethoven's First Piano Concerto; a magnificent performance of Beethoven's second cello sonata along with her long-standing artistic partner, cellist Mischa Maisky; an inspiring performance in Debussy's Petite Suite for four-hands with Romanian pianist Cristina Marton; and finally in a constellation of ten artists in Camille Saint-Saens highly entertaining and varied, Carnival of the Animals.Two violin sonatas grace the compilation; one each by Ravel and Respighi. The Ravel is performed by the impressively talented Andrey Baranov (winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2012) who delivers a compelling rendition ably accompanied by the pianist Jura Margulis. The Respighi which possesses a fecundity of melody and a seriousness of intent is beautifully performed by violinist Renaud Capucon and the Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi.I shall conclude the review with Carlo Maria Griguoli's exuberant three-piano arrangement of Offenbach's Gaite parisienne performed with supreme verve by Griguoli joined by Giorgia Tomassi and Allessandro Stella.A three-disc compilation to grace your collection.