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Argerich Plays Chopin (2010)

Posted By: naponski
Argerich Plays Chopin (2010)

Argerich Plays Chopin (2010)
EAC Rip | Flac (Tracks + cue + log) | 1 CD | Full Scans | 177 MB
Genre: Classical | Label: Deutsche Grammophon | Catalog Number: 001396002

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. Although her broader career actually began with victory in the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1965, the earliest selection on this CD, from 1959, shows us how precociously Argerich built up her mastery. Her most influential teacher often is said to have been Friedrich Gulda. One can hear his influence, on this CD, in the structural clarity and harmonic daring of the playing. Argerich also studied with Nikita Magaloff, Stefan Ashkenase, and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, all among the best Chopin players of their time. Yet, as the present recording proves, Argerich sounds like none of these men. From early on, Argerich was always Argerich, and the evidence on this CD lies in recordings that range from fascinating to remarkable.

Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Martha Argerich

Reviews: The earliest recording here, the Ballade No. 1, was made when Argerich was just 17. Already one notices the clear-cut sense of structure. The introduction of the second subject shows great gentleness, and its long line builds up naturally. The Ballade’s coda is typically brilliant. Fast forward to 1967, and Argerich is in her mid 20s. Her etude now is a whirlwind, yet harmonically convincing. Her mazurkas in general are a little faster than usual, with a very wide dynamic range. Op. 41/4 is rhythmically intricate, a too undanceable dance. Op. 41/1 finds the pianist in an uncommonly relaxed mood. In op. 24/2, she teases the melodies like a cat plays with a ball of yarn. Her op. 63/2 already shows a mature feeling for the tonal shadings of late Chopin. The famous dance, op. 33/2, is accented with the subtlest rubato.

Argerich plays the three op. 59 mazurkas as a set. She is very attentive to Chopin’s tempo markings, which typically may indicate mood as well as tempo. For example, in op. 59/1 her moderato is somewhat subdued. Op. 59/2 is a Parisian dance as much as it is Polish, while op. 59/3 seems very Polish. In the op. 15/1 Nocturne, the B section provides a great contrast, a violent eruption that is perfectly controlled. The return of the A section is simple yet refined. The op. 55/2 Nocturne is full of romance, yet harmonically astute.

The recording of the Third Sonata is apparently the only selection on this CD that occurred before a live audience, which is fairly quiet throughout. Comparing the first movement with the 1959 Ballade No. 1, one notices here in a large structure how much more sophisticated Argerich’s playing had become by 1967. The movement is free but with no lack of focus, maestoso in the turbulence that Argerich keeps under control. Her scherzo is truly molto vivace. The Largo begins immediately after it. Here the tempo perhaps is a little too slow, prompted by the desire to balance the momentums of the first subject and the deeply romantic second subject. The structure suffers somewhat. After the brief opening of the finale, you catch your breath as Argerich introduces the first subject. The playing of this movement is brilliant and dramatic, just on the edge of being too fast. Indeed, on the edge is where Argerich seems to feel most comfortable throughout this collection.

The sound engineering on this CD, from four different German radio recording sessions, is perfectly acceptable mono. The 1959 Ballade No. 1 does have a slight fizzing sound in places. I always have been satisfied with good monaural sound on solo piano recordings; I’m not sure that stereo adds all that much. Argerich’s friend and colleague Nelson Freire has called her the greatest pianist of her generation. This CD, if not absolute proof of that judgment, offers artistry that is very hard to argue with. For lovers of Chopin and of great piano playing, this album is warmly welcomed.

Tracklisting:

1. Ballade for Piano no 1 in G minor, B 66/Op. 23 by Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Martha Argerich (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1831-1835
Date of Recording: 1/26/1959
Venue: Studio 7, RIAS
2. Etudes (12) for Piano, Op. 10: no 4 in C sharp minor, B 74 by Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Martha Argerich (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1832; Poland
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
3. Mazurkas (4) for Piano, Op. 41: no 1 in C sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin
Period: Romantic
Written: 1839; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
4. Mazurkas (4) for Piano, Op. 41: no 2 in E minor by Frédéric Chopin
Period: Romantic
Written: 1838; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
5. Mazurkas (4) for Piano, B 89/Op. 24: no 2 in C major by Frédéric Chopin
Period: Romantic
Written: 1834-1835; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
6. Mazurkas (3) for Piano, B 162/Op. 63: no 2 in F minor by Frédéric Chopin
Period: Romantic
Written: 1846; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
7. Mazurkas (4) for Piano, B 115/Op. 33: no 2 in D major by Frédéric Chopin
Period: Romantic
Written: 1837-1838; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
8. Nocturnes (3) for Piano, Op. 15: no 1 in F major by Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Martha Argerich (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830-1831; Poland
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
9. Nocturnes (2) for Piano, B 152/Op. 55: no 2 in E flat major by Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Martha Argerich (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1843; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 12/3/1967
Venue: Studio Lankwitz, RIAS
10. Mazurkas (3) for Piano, B 157/Op. 59 by Frédéric Chopin
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 10/31/1967
Venue: Concert Hall 2, WDR Köln
11. Sonata for Piano no 3 in B minor, B 155/Op. 58 by Frédéric Chopin
Performer: Martha Argerich (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1844; Paris, France
Date of Recording: Live 3/15/1967
Venue: Hochschule für Musik, Berlin

Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009

EAC extraction logfile from 2. March 2010, 15:55

Martha Argerich / Argerich plays Chopin

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Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
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Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
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1 | 0:00.00 | 8:29.10 | 0 | 38184
2 | 8:29.10 | 1:56.17 | 38185 | 46901
3 | 10:25.27 | 2:56.06 | 46902 | 60107
4 | 13:21.33 | 1:54.18 | 60108 | 68675
5 | 15:15.51 | 1:52.60 | 68676 | 77135
6 | 17:08.36 | 1:32.29 | 77136 | 84064
7 | 18:40.65 | 2:06.19 | 84065 | 93533
8 | 20:47.09 | 3:40.29 | 93534 | 110062
9 | 24:27.38 | 4:16.63 | 110063 | 129325
10 | 28:44.26 | 3:35.49 | 129326 | 145499
11 | 32:20.00 | 2:23.61 | 145500 | 156285
12 | 34:43.61 | 2:52.47 | 156286 | 169232
13 | 37:36.33 | 10:45.03 | 169233 | 217610
14 | 48:21.36 | 2:17.07 | 217611 | 227892
15 | 50:38.43 | 9:13.64 | 227893 | 269431
16 | 59:52.32 | 4:30.12 | 269432 | 289693


Track 1

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Track 16

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