Argerich 2010

June 8, 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of robert Schumann, one of the most important romantic composers of the 19th century. To celebrate his vast and impressive output, Deutsche Grammophon and Decca have compiled this 35-CD box set of his most important masterworks. Though this is not a complete edition, it includes every major work and a number of rarities covering every aspect of Schumann's output.

Here, for the first time in a single box set, are the 48 CDs that make up Martha Argerich’s recording legacy from 1960 to 2014 with Deutsche Grammophon and Philips, including the four “Lugano Concertos” CDs and the Chopin CD of 1960s radio recordings.

The Beethoven Triple Concerto is a strange work, with the most important–-or at least prominent–-solos given to the cello; it is the instrument which introduces each movement. The remarkable Martha Argerich wisely allows Mischa Maisky to shine in his solos and leading position, but her contribution is anything but back seat. Her customary virtuosity is everywhere in evidence, and, in a way, she turns the piano into the spinal column of the work, with the violin and cello playing around her. Every time Maisky is about to lapse into a mannerism which might detract–-too much sliding, a dynamic slightly exaggerated–-Argerich brings him back, and both of them play with handsome tone. Capucon's violin is recorded a bit stridently (this was taped live in Lugano), but his playing is equally stunning. Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky leads the orchestra matter-of-factly until the final movement, when he catches the proper fire. In the Schumann A minor concerto Argerich is wonderful the solo passages and a fine partner in orchestrated ones and she really makes much of both the lyrical runs and the dance-like passages in the last movement. Recommended.

When Deutsche Grammophon released the first volume (of solo recitals) in this series to celebrate the recordings of Martha Argerich, it became a best-seller. This was followed by a collection of the pianist's concerto recordings, and now, the third collection of chamber ensemble works will be released. The CDs are packaged with original LP-cover artwork along with new liner notes and a host of rare photos and each recording has been newly mastered to ensure the highest quality listening experience.

In our era, when large record companies parade good-looking mediocrities before us as major artists, it is good to be reminded of the real thing. Martha Argerich, as this CD demonstrates, had everything: the looks, the temperament, and the technique. By her mid 20s, she already was a phenomenal artist.

The name of Martha Argerich on any label always means fire, and so it is here. She and Gidon Kremer play with quite exceptional urgency and temperament, and the bright, clear recording brings up both instruments with a sheen. In fact the music springs at you with such immediacy that anyone previously of the opinion that Schumann was showing signs of tiredness in these latish works will be compelled to think again.

Pianists Martha Argerich and Sergei Babayan present two stunning selections from Prokofiev’s music for stage and screen in magnificent two-piano transcriptions by Babayan.

Argerich, Kremer, Maisky - The Complete Duo Recordings (2012) {13CD BoxSet Deutsche Grammophon 477 9524}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.25 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.97 Gb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 153 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2012 Deutsche Grammophon / Universal | 477 9524
Classical / Chamber Music / Piano / Violin / Cello

Martha Argerich's associations with violinist Gidon Kremer and cellist Mischa Maisky are surely among the pianist’s most substantial and musically rewarding collaborations. The present collection includes all of the Argerich/Kremer and Argerich/Maisky duo recordings for Deutsche Grammophon as originally released and in chronological order. Although Argerich has participated in numerous musical partnerships, not to mention her longtime mentoring of young artists, her associations with violinist Gidon Kremer and cellist Mischa Maisky are surely among the pianist's most substantial and musically rewarding collaborations. The present collection includes all of the Argerich/Kremer and Argerich/Maisky duo recordings for Deutsche Grammophon as originally released and in chronological order, allowing listeners the opportunity to trace each duo's evolution in terms of artistic rapport, sensitivity, risk-taking and the fine tuning of nuance.