Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich (born the June 5th 1941) is a Swiss Pianiste of origin Argentine.

Martha Argerich was born with Buenos Aires. Its gifts for the music are noticed very early, because it rejoue immediately what his/her older brother works. His/her mother then presents it to Vincenzo Scaramuzza, large piano teacher which has for other pupils Bruno Leonardo Gelber, Daniel Barenboïm and Sylvia Kersenbaum. She gives its first concert to the eight years age, playing a Concerto for piano in major C opus 15 of Beethoven.

In 1955, the Argerich family settles in Europe, with Vienna, and Martha studies with Friedrich Gulda. She studies then with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and Stefan Askenase. In 1957, it gains two important contests: the international Contest of musical execution of Geneva and the Busoni Contest with Bolzano in the space of a few weeks. Its career of professional pianist is launched. However, it rather quickly decides not to play more in public.

After having recorded a first disc, for Deutsche Grammophon, with the program of which one finds works of Chopin, Brahms, Ravel, Prokofiev and Liszt, Martha Argerich creates the surprise in the musical world in 1965 with Warsaw, by gaining the first price of the contest Chopin, the price of the public and that of the best interpretation of the Mazurka S. will follow of many discs of which the Third Concerto of Prokofiev, recorded with the Philharmonic orchestra of Berlin under the direction of the Italian Leader Claudio Abbado , in 1968.

One considers usually his pianistic technique as one of most impressive in the relatively restricted circle of the largest contemporary interpreters - sometimes one compares it with Vladimir Horowitz. Indeed, its first recordings, carried out at the 19 years age with works such as the Toccata of Prokofiev or the Rhapsody n° 6 of Liszt remain references still today. A complete discography is maintained up to date by its many admirors and Martha Argerich took care unceasingly of the promotion of young pianists by the means of his annual festival. Martha Argerich is interested of close with the young musicians. It follows their artistic development and allows them to be made known of the public by inviting them in the three festivals of which it is occupied: in Italy, in Japan and in Argentina where it recently created a festival with Buenos Aires where a contest of piano bearing its name is organized.

Martha Argerich ceased only playing in recital since 1979 except for a recital given to the Carnegie Hall with New York, in favor of a foundation of fight against the cancer and of another given within the framework of the Festival of Beppu, with the Japan, of which it is the artistic director. But it gives many concerts of chamber music, with two pianos and interprets concertos.

Martha Argerich has a vast repertory which extends from Bach to the contemporary type-setter of Russian origin Alexandre Rabinovitch.

It has formed for 40 years a duet with her friend the Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire. Together, they recorded for Philips and Deutsche Grammophon. Martha Argerich was the wife of the Leader Charles Dutoit and was the partner of the American pianist Stephen Kovacevich.

External bonds

the repertory of Martha Argerich
Georges Gachot carried out a documentary film on Martha Argerich '' Martha Argerich, conversation night '' (2002).

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