Martha Argerich - Music for Two Pianos (2008)

When EMI agreed to record Martha Argerich's appearances at the Lugano Chamber Music Festival, no doubt part of the contract included a clause stipulating it could release her two piano recordings separately. It only makes sense. While her dedicated fans might be avidly interested in everything the Argentinean pianist does, less ardent listeners may be more tempted by a set that focuses directly on Argerich rather than including all manner of chamber music. Here on two discs is Argerich distilled, or as distilled as her disinclination to perform alone will allow. Joined by six different pianists in seven different works, Argerich delivers her standard hell-bent-for-glory playing. For Argerich, with her gigantic technique and fierce temperament, nothing less seems possible, and these are some of the most violently passionate performances of these pieces ever recorded. This approach works supremely well in Brahms' stormy Sonata in F minor and Rachmaninov's tempestuous Suite No. 2, but may seem a tad overdone on Prokofiev's wry "Classical" Symphony and Tchaikovsky's serene Nutcracker Suite. Still for hair-raising virtuosity, it is hard to beat Argerich matched with Gabriela Montero in Rachmaninov's Suite or with Lilya Zilberstein in Brahms' sonata. Recorded between 2002 and 2005, EMI's live sound is hot, close, and vivid.