Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Visceral Argerich

Martha Argerich must get through pianos like some people get through shoes. It is testament to the skill of the piano builder, and Argerich's extraordinary technique, that after the most ferocious pounding in the early parts of Liszt's piano sonata, Argerich is still capable of extracting some delicate, nuanced phrasing in the more expressive sections. Her recording of the B minor sonata for Deutsche Grammophon (437 252-2) is remarkably physical - exhausting just to listen to. Gramophone's 2012 guide (a birthday present - thanks kids!) rates this recording as legendary. Commenting on the sound quality the author says it's excellent 'if you bother to notice it'. With music this visceral, the sound is almost incidental.

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