Martha Argerich - Schumann: Chamber Works (1995)

This box of Schumann's chamber works makes a superb package, and is often available at bargain price. It is a bit like one of Martha Argerich's box sets from Lugano, except that here she is present in a large number of the formations. All of the works where she features, including the Piano Quintet, the 2nd Violin Sonata and the Marchenbilder, are unmissable and full of passion and excitement, conveying a continuous sense of transport. Where she is not the pianist Alexandre Rabinovitch takes over at the keyboard and also gives us some superlative versions. The Piano Quartet is marvellously fleet in the scherzo and last movement, completely caught on the wing. The slow movement has a yearning that places the whole work very high in his output, its cadences are so heartfelt. Dora Schwarzberg is a very expressive violinist, adding particular distinction to the top line. The rarity on the discs is the Andante und Variationen op. 46 for two pianos, two cellos, and horn, which is brilliant, and here presented in its full version rather than that for two pianos. It seems incredible it is so unknown, it has such variety, such gaiety in its import.