Just bought a box of her solo recordings after having been blown away by some youtube footage of her doing Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit. Such an amazing player, and a very powerful, unique voice on piano. As I am not terribly educated on pianists, I can't compare her to a lot of other players, but she's got ridiculous technique, and plays w/a *lot* of confidence. But she's also got beautiful phrasing. The Ravel was gorgeous -- and I *am* really familiar w/thosoe pieces. She plays it with tenderness, and an eerie grace, obviously understands and feels the music. But then I hear her play Bach, and she's whipping out counterpoint lines w/Gould-ian precision, but a decidedly non-Gouldian fire.
Also, I haven't ever really gotten into Chopin, but I'm into her recordings of his music. I love when that happens, an inspiring classical performer teaches me about a composer!
Would love to hear others' Argerich stories and recs.
― Dominique, Tuesday, 16 November 2010 04:13 (fifteen years ago)
I had an initial negative reaction to her 1980 Bach LP a couple years back and never gave her another shot. I'll re-listen to the English Suite #2 (which I used to play relatively well) but I remember finding it loopy and overbearing. If anyone wants to point me to something of hers that's particularly great I'd appreciate it as well.
― skip, Tuesday, 16 November 2010 04:28 (fifteen years ago)
She is one of the best piano players of the last century. She's specially skilled when playing Ravel, Lizst, Chopin and Prokofiev and I'd recommend searching every interpretation he has on any of those composers as hers are some of the most definite versions you'll find.
Not too keen on her Bach and Brahms but Glenn Gould has the former pretty much covered.
― Moka, Tuesday, 16 November 2010 04:51 (fifteen years ago)
If any musician deserves their own thread it's her. She's absolutely amazing. Incredibly beautiful as well.
On a somewhat related point, what do people think of Arkadi Volodos, this video seems really amazing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foxwafvzu04
― jeevves, Tuesday, 16 November 2010 05:11 (fifteen years ago)
She's definitely one of my favorite pianists, if not my favorite. Just as Ravel is one of my favorite composers when it comes to solo piano literature, if not my favorite. (Oddly enough, or maybe not oddly at all, I generally don't like her recordings of Ravel. I guess merging two favorites doesn't always work.)
― Miss Garrote (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 November 2010 05:13 (fifteen years ago)
I like her version of the Kreutzer Sonata with Gidon Kremer a lot.
― jeevves, Tuesday, 16 November 2010 05:25 (fifteen years ago)
Eric, what's your favorite recording of Gaspard de la nuit?
― silence is a rhythm too (Turangalila), Friday, 19 November 2010 16:12 (fifteen years ago)
magic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_36x1_LKgg
― in my room, redefining the meaning of black crowes (Edward III), Monday, 24 January 2011 20:46 (fifteen years ago)
just been dipping toes into canonical piano stuff but this lady seems to bury most others, at least to my ears
― global tetrahedron, Wednesday, 8 January 2025 20:06 (one year ago)