Martha Argerich: 5 Classic Albums

Pianist Martha Argerich is featured in this second batch of our series comprising five original artist studio albums in one clamshell box.

The first of five discs in this set offers live recordings of three works: Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op.12, and Maurice Ravel's Sonatine and Gaspard de la nuit. These three works were recorded live in 1979 at Concergebouw Amsterdam. Disc two of this set features piano works from a variety of composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin, and Béla Bartók. These works were also recorded live in 1979 at Concergebouw Amsterdam. Disc three of this set showcases Argerich's performance of Ludwig van Beethoven s Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, Op. 56, and of Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54. These two works are performed with violinist Renaud Capuçon, cellist Mischa Maisky, and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, and are conducted by Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky. The fourth disc in this set provides Argerich's masterful performance of Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11, and Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21. These two works by Chopin are performed alongside the Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal, and under the direction of Charles Dutoit. The final disc in this five disc set features performances of both Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Flat, Op. 10, and Piano Concerto No. 3 in C, Op. 26, as well as a performance of Béla Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119. These three 20th century works, in relation to the earlier works presented on other discs in this collection, truly highlight the breadth of Argerich's performance style and virtuosity.

Martha Argerich was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1941. She began piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo Scaramuzza. Considered a child prodigy, she soon performed in public. At age 14, Argerich moved to Europe to continue her studies in London, Vienna and in Switzerland alongside a variety of well-known teachers. In 1957, two years after moving to Europe, Argerich she won the Bolzano and Geneva Piano Competitions, and in 1965 she won the Warsaw International Chopin Competition. Since her early success, Argerich has been one of the most prominent pianists in the world, both in popularity and ability.