Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich & Friends: Live from Lugano 2014

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AllMusic Review by Blair Sanderson

Similar to previous volumes in this long-running series, the Live from Lugano 2014 box set offers the expected mix of a piano concerto, various chamber works, and keyboard performances by Martha Argerich and a group of well-known and rising musicians. While most of the performances are satisfying, particularly Argerich's refined interpretation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466, and the handful of chamber sonatas by Frank Bridge, Francis Poulenc, and Mieczyslaw Weinberg, there is one selection that doesn't work so well. The arrangement for piano quintet of Darius Milhaud's La création du monde is unbalanced in the murky recording, and the lackluster transcription and sluggish performance show none of the jazziness and charm of the original version for chamber orchestra. Other than that oddity, and the curiosity that is Ferruccio Busoni's youthful transcription for two pianos, eight hands of Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 1 in C minor, which comes off more like a clever stunt than a compelling performance, the rest of the pieces are well-chosen and equally well-played. The roster of artists includes Lugano regulars, like cellists Mischa Maisky and Gautier Capuçon, violinist Gidon Kremer, and pianist Gabriela Montero, though most of the musicians are not household names. All the same, they are likely familiar to collectors of these live recordings and deserve the exposure the festival brings.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
	1	Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Martha Argerich	14:02
	2	Romance Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Martha Argerich	8:55
	3	Rondo. Allegro assai Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Martha Argerich	7:50
	4	Variations on "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen," WoO 46 Ludwig van Beethoven	Martha Argerich	9:57
La création du monde, Op. 81b
	5	Prelude Darius Milhaud	Martha Argerich	4:59
	6	Fugue Darius Milhaud	Martha Argerich	1:37
	7	Romance Darius Milhaud	Martha Argerich	3:45
	8	Scherzo Darius Milhaud	Martha Argerich	1:23
	9	Finale Darius Milhaud	Martha Argerich	6:34

Track Listing - Disc 2

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 11 for two pianos/eight hands
	1	I. Allegro di molto Felix Mendelssohn	Martha Argerich	9:50
	2	II. Andante Felix Mendelssohn	Martha Argerich	6:33
	3	III. Menuetto: Allegro molto Felix Mendelssohn	Martha Argerich	6:07
	4	IV. Allegro con fuoco Felix Mendelssohn	Martha Argerich	8:19
Piano Quintet in C minor
	5	I. Andante Alexander Borodin	Martha Argerich	4:40
	6	II. Scherzo: Allegro non troppo Alexander Borodin	Martha Argerich	5:28
	7	III. Finale: Allegro moderato Alexander Borodin	Martha Argerich	10:39
Cello Sonata in D minor, H125
	8	I. Allegro ben moderato Frank Bridge	Martha Argerich	10:28
	9	II. Adagio ma non troppo - Frank Bridge	Martha Argerich	5:14
	10	Molto allegro e agitato Frank Bridge	Martha Argerich	8:08

Track Listing - Disc 3

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Piano Sonata, FP 8 for four hands
	1	I. Prélude: Modéré Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	1:59
	2	II. Rustique: Naïf et lent Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	2:11
	3	III. Final: Très vite Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	2:20
Cello Sonata, FP 143
	4	I. Allegro: Tempo di marcia Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	5:35
	5	II. Cavatine: Très calme Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	6:12
	6	III. Ballabile: Très animé et gai Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	3:28
	7	IV. Finale: Largo, très librement - Presto subito - Largo Francis Poulenc	Martha Argerich	6:53
	8	Fantasy in A minor, Op. posth. for two Pianos Alexander Scriabin	Martha Argerich	7:31
Violin Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
	9	I. Andante con moto Mieczyslaw Weinberg	Martha Argerich	5:07
	10	II. Allegro molto Mieczyslaw Weinberg	Martha Argerich	6:04
	11	III. Allegro moderato Mieczyslaw Weinberg	Martha Argerich	4:58
	12	IV. Allegro - Andante - Allegretto - Andante Mieczyslaw Weinberg	Martha Argerich	8:01

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