An exhausted Argerich agrees to a Schumann encore
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Lovely.
This is a signature piece of hers, just like Horowitz had Träumerei from the same work. Greatness is lyrical, I find.
Just asking: with all the technical skill and flamboyance, has an encore by Yuja Wang ever moved anyone?
Yuja Wang’s encore, her own jazzy improvisation on Mozart’s “Turkish March”, has moved me to becoming giddy with joy. But I am assuming that’s not what you meant by your question. My answer is not meant to equate Yuja and Martha in the pantheon of great pianists. They are different artists. I have been a fan of Martha Argerich since before I first heard her perform Prokofiev PC 3 with the NY Phil more than 50 years ago. Always will cherish her playing.
Yuja does play the Dance of the Blessed Sprits rather beautifully. Please don’t assume supervirtuosity (which Yuja and Martha possess) equates even in some cases to coldness or lack of emotional connection ( the usual stupid criticism of Heifetz) or ability to communicate. Never look at the pianist, just listen. And try Earl Wild…….
I’m surprised she’s still alive. Quit smoking yet?
She’s certainly smokin’ hot at the piano!!
She asked me for a light many years ago at the RFH, I duly obliged.
Her DG recording of Kinderszenen is akin to a miracle. I don’t believe anyone even comes close musically — she captures the spirit of this music with incredible depth and intelligence. It’s one of those very rare recordings that convinces you the piece cannot be played otherwise.
Do listen to Clifford Curzon
or Horowitz!
How is that performance one representing “exhaustion?”
Sometimes, it takes more energy to play a simple-sounding piece of music than it does a wall-banger, pyrotechnic wonder.
Just because she is an older woman, does not mean that she is “exhausted.”
By the way, her hair is magnificent! A better description of her appearance than, “exhausted.”
Very well said, indeed, Margaret. I also thought that using the word “exhausted” was jumping to conclusions. Martha indeed looks (and sounds in her encore) aristocratic.
Yeah she doesn’t look exhausted to me. She’s Argerich. She can do whatever the hell she wants. If she was exhausted, she’d be in bed. That night, she wanted to play an encore. Lucky audience.
She can certainly still tickle those ivories better than most.
That’s been her favorite encore for years!
That hair does make her look old and exhausted-reminds us she is aging! Nothing to do with gender.
Mmmm… OK.
Now seemingly banned from so many international concert halls…for Her,&Tchiakowski’s,
Tolstoi’s,Pushkin’s & Borodin’s,yes & Nureyev’s invasion of Ukraine…
the wonderfull Valentina cannot complain of Travel Fatigue…our Loss….Truly so !
Not in the same league as Ms Argerich. Not even close.
Not really in any way remarkable. But her Beethoven 2 in this venue is another matter and well worth watching. There’s also an Argerich/Blomstedt No.1 from Lucerne Festival on YouTube.
She is going 84 now….
Sometimes pianists do play at their best in their 80s. Consider Artur Rubinstein, for example.
Considering her age, these performances… every night in a different city on a different continent and time zone… are exhausting for even someone in their 20s. It’s not for money they continue this extraordinary effort. It is the need to present this magical music that has formed their life. She is a treasure for humanity.
The music always comes first for her. She’s the best.
No one comes close to Stephen Hough. He makes every piece come alive and you can always hear every note.