Virtuosity!
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 12/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This immensely entertaining collection of works for two pianos featuring the inimitable Martha Argerich and friends is a composite recording of works from the Lugano Festivals of 2003 - 2006, and while many collectors may have the annual recordings from these festivals, this particular emphasis on works for two pianos alone is worth adding this affordable CD to the collection.
Not all of the works on this powerful CD (live performances all!) were written for two pianos: the Tchaikovsky Suite from 'The Nutcracker' is a transcription as is the Prokofiev Classical Symphony. For this listener it matters not a bit. In fact the transcription of the Prokofiev Symphony No. 1 by Rikuya Terashima as performed by both Argerich and Yefim Bronfman is for this listener one of the highlights of the album. All of Prokofiev's humor and biting satire are tossed off by these two artists with ease. It is dazzlingly well played! There are a few rarities to enjoy here - the Rachmaninov 'Six Morceaux' for piano four hands (which ends with a tribute to Mussorgsky) and Suite No. 2 for two pianos (with Gabriela Montero) are far too seldom heard.
The Brahms Sonata in F minor for two pianos is monumental and played with passion and precision as is the shorter 'Variations of a them by Haydn: Lilya Zilberstein joins Argerich on the former and Polina Leshenko on the latter. Ending the two disc set is another rarity - Lutoslawski's 'Variations on a theme by Paganini' for two pianos (Giorgio Tomassi seconds here). Though the work is a brief 5 minutes it holds much of the almost orchestral-like coloration of the master's major works.
For those who remain under the spell of Martha Argerich this recording is a treasure. Be aware that the applause from the live audience is recorded also... Grady Harp, December 08"
Argerich persists in her love of two-piano arrangements
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Because of her commadning reputation -- and her refusal to play solo recitals -- Martha Argerich has the clout to revive the genre of two-piano music, with its musty Victorian parlor overtones. She is even eccentric enough to avoid the great music written by Schubert and Mozart for four hands in order to concetrate, for the most part, on arrangements of works like The Nutcracker Suite that are better served by their orchestral originals.
Still, if you are enthusiastic about two-piano music at all, it's hard to argue against Argerich's brilliance. EMI has drawn this bargain two-fer from summer concerts at Lugano, Switzerland (collectors of the 'Martha Argerich and Friends' series that comes out annually will own everything here already, with one or two exceptions). The remake of the Nutcracker isn't quite as delicte and entracing as her DG account, and the Rachmaninov Suite #2 is just as hectic as her first version on Teldec.
For me, the best items are the Brahms, because the composer had a hand in them, and because the Sonata in F minor is a genuine alternative to the familiar Piano Quintet. The Var. on a Theme by Haydn is also sometimes heard outside its well-known orchewtral setting. These two works get inspired performances here. Since they would easily fill a whole CD, one can look on the rest as free fill-ups even if you already own the DG and Teldec versions.
If you missed the product description, here's the whole program:
Brahms: Sonata for 2 pianos in F minor, Op. 34b Martha Argerich (piano) & Lilya Zilbertstein (piano) Variations on a theme by Haydn, Op. 56b for 2 Pianos Martha Argerich (piano) & Polina Leschenko (piano) Lutoslawski: Variations on a Theme of Paganini for 2 Pianos Martha Argerich (piano) & Giorgia Tomassi (piano) Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 'Classical' Transcribed for two pianos by Rikuya Terashima Martha Argerich (piano) & Yefim Bronfman (piano) Rachmaninov: Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, Op. 17 Martha Argerich (piano) & Gabriela Montero (piano) Six Pieces, Op. 11 Six Morceaux for piano four hands Lilya Zilberstein (piano) & Martha Argerich (piano) Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a Transcribed for two pianos by Nicolas Economu Martha Argerich (piano) & Mirabela Dina (piano)
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Track Listings (18) - Disc #1