Those two giants of the music world, Martha Argerich http://marthargerich.blogspot.co.uk and Daniel Barenboim http://danielbarenboim.com were both born
in Buenos Aires, Argentina a city to which they returned in the summer of 2015 for
a concert at the Teatro Colón
that included works for two pianos by Schumann, Debussy and Bartok.
This concert was recorded and is now available on a new
release from
Deutsche Grammophon www.deutschegrammophon.com/gb/cat/4795563
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| 479 5563 |
Robert Schumann’s
(1810 - 1856) Six Studies in Canon Form, Op.56 were written in 1845 and
later arranged for two pianos by Claude Debussy. Martha Argerich and
Daniel Barenboim bring a lovely leisurely flow to the first study, Nicht zu schnell with some beautifully
done decorations. These two could easily be one, such is the terrific
interweaving of musical lines. Mit
innigem Ausdruck again has a fine flow with these two fine musicians gently
pointing up every detail bringing a wonderfully subtle rubato in this most
beautifully shaped performance.
The Andantino
bring a lovely rolling flow with a subtle rhythmic lift and a fine rubato before
Innig that has an exquisitely shaped opening,
these two providing such a beautifully gentle touch, subtly illuminated by
little hints of passion, a passion brought more fully to bear as the study develops,
only to find its opening gentle nature to close.
Nicht zu schnell has
a tremendously crisp rhythmic touch from this intuitive duo, quite wonderful.
They deliver a stately Adagio, weaving
the most lovely lines through passages of fine feeling and depth.
Argerich and Barenboim bring some wonderfully florid phrases
to Avec emportement that opens Claude Debussy’s (1862 - 1918) own work for two pianos, En blanc et noir. Their quick-fire
phrasing, tempi and dynamics are terrific, rising to some quite wonderful
dynamic moments. Lent. Sombre has a
dark opening with contrasting drama impressively conjured. They slowly find
every detail with some wonderful moments of haunting atmosphere before building
through some formidable passages, bringing terrific ensemble and strength. The Scherzando has a wonderfully fluent,
quicksilver quality alive to every little twist and turn with so many little
subtleties.
This is a masterly performance.
Percussionists Pedro Manuel Torrejón González https://es-es.facebook.com/pedromanuel.torrejongonzalez
and Lev Loftus http://jcmf.org.il/artists/lev-loftus
join for Béla Bartók’s (1881 - 1945) Sonata
for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz110.
There is wonderfully hushed timpani at the opening of the Assai lento over which Argerich and
Barenboim gently bring the theme. Sudden outbursts send shock waves with this
movement building to some wonderfully impressive moments, finding all of Bartók’s
rhythmic and harmonic wonders. There is quite thrilling playing here from all
these musicians, a great freedom and wonderful panache. The precision between
pianos and percussion is impressive with an electricity running right through
this performance. These two percussionists provide some wonderfully fleet
passages. Combined, they find all of Bartok’s brittle textures before arriving
at a powerful peak. There are quieter moments of fine precision and atmosphere
before a stunning coda.
In the Lento, ma non troppo
percussion set an atmospheric opening to which these two pianists add a slow,
finely judged theme, slowly and subtly bringing a more intense rhythmic nature.
There is a terrific ensemble between musicians with a magnetism that is
remarkable. They move through passages of subtly increasing drama to a finely
drawn coda.
The Allegro non troppo
is full of brilliance as they quickly push forward, full of buoyancy, building
through complex passages, wonderfully phrased and shaped. There are some lovely
subtle phrases where percussionists and each pianist respond to each other to
great effect, making sense of Bartok’s complex phrases and brilliant writing
before a delightfully done coda.
Two great musicians have come together in the city of their birth
to give us the most wonderful musical experience. The live recording is
excellent, with my download full of warmth and detail. The enthusiastic
applause is kept at the very end.
These are performances that shouldn’t be missed.
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