A Barenboim debut
OrchestrasLast night, we are told, was the first time Daniel Barenboim and Martha Argerich had appeared together with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Their collaboration goes back almost 75 years to their childhood in Buenos Aires.
Amid the gloomy news of Barenboim’s health, this reunion at the Philharmonie was exceptionally touching.
UPDATE: After the Schumann concerto, which Martha played and Daniel conducted, they played a four-hand encore, a suite from Bizet’s Jeux d’enfants.
One of our readers sent us this affectionate moment.
Main photo: Vincent Mouret, second Alvaro Mendizabal
And another snapshot:
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I watched today’s concert (same programme) live on Digital Concert Hall. Exceedingly touching occasion.
Sounds like Baremboin’s goodbie
I hope not…
I hope so, even it it will be sad to see him go. Let him retire in peace with enough years left to enjoy it!
Why would you hope so? How he wishes to spend his life is none of your business! Perhaps concerting is what gives him the greatest joy in life, you never know.
According to the DCH, this is Argerich’s first BPO appearance since 2014, when she played Schumann with Chailly. Before that, 2007. Before that, probably in the Abbado years. She doesn’t seem to come to them a lot.
Well, she seems to avoid the ‘big’ orchestra’s. Her last concert with the Concertgebouw Orchestra was in 1998. Her debut with the Vienna Phil was as late as 2017!
Wonderful!
This is last night, Saturday Jan 7, the second performance of three…
http://www.colinscolumn.com/berliner-philharmoniker-daniel-barenboim-conducts-johannes-brahmss-second-symphony-and-martha-argerich-plays-robert-schumanns-piano-concerto-live-digital-concert-hall-webcast/
Thank you,Colin!
A combination of excellence – two great musicians brought together by their love for music.
Hoping to hear all or at least some of the concert
The Schumann was fantastic…..The encore very touching on an emotional level,yet shockingly unrehearsed,exaggerated,and rhytmically almost unrecognisable….The Brahms probably the worst performance on the Digital Concert hall: Sluggish,tentative,the musicians left alone in tiying the loose ends together…..However,it was touching,especially his distrubiting the flowers to the orchestra members at the end…
Totally agree. Berlin Phil. way below its best – couple of the extras in the wind and brass sections not up to par…
Having said this, i think he looked much better and was far more in command than in last summer´s concerts with the West Eastern Divan..I believe the weeks of rest had a good effect on him.
This may be the last Barenboim concert. I watched as the music gave him strength, as it did to Abbado in his decline. As the Marstro conducted Brahms we saw him conduct more animatedly as the music went on. Afterwards he received flowers. He the proceeded to hand out individual blossoms to each and every woman musician in the orchestra. Walking and talking a bit to each one. The music was wonderful as was Martha. But he ended on a high note – for himself especially. Seeing him smile was the best.
So heart-warming amidst a world ptactically falling apart in so many different ways.
I also watched this on the Philharmoniker’s DCH (which, if you’ve not seen, you must. Incredible camera work and great sound). There was no indication-that I observed- that this was DB’s final concert. He did the bare minimum physically, mostly shaping with his left hand, only occasionally giving robust beats for ensemble with his right. Argerich’s level of artistry is, at 80, as great as ever. Her fantasy, color, rubato and rhythmic flexibility was completely supported by DB and this great orchestra, who were with her all the way. Simply breathtaking.
I so agree Titurel! I watched it twice – yesterday live, and this morning repeated. Luckily they are now editing and it will shortly be permanently available on Digital Concert Hall so we can watch it again and again! On top of the sheer quality of the performance and transmission, I found it deeply moving.
Jeux D’Enfants IS a Suite so MA and DB didn’t play a Suite from it. Did you mean a movement from it? If so it would be interesting to know which one as I don’t think they have played it together before.
It was Little Husband, Little Wife
#10 in Bizet Jeux d’Enfants
Was fortunate to attend the first of the 3 concerts they performed. Touching as the 4 handed encore was, it was even more moving later. Once the orchestra had left the stage Barenboim returned, alone, to thank the audience.