Argerich + Freire: Rachmaninov, Ravel, Lutoslawski - Philips 6514 369 (DDD)
$
65
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Description
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
This outstanding LP from Philips (6514 369, Dutch pressing, red/white label, DDD stereo) features Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire's extraordinary two piano recital recorded at La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland in August 1982. Included are Rachmaninoff's Suite No. 2 Op. 17, Ravel's La Valse, and Lutoslawski's Variations on a Theme by Paganini.
Argerich plays the primo part in the Rachmaninoff and Lutoslawski, while taking the segundo part in the Ravel – however, in all works she can be heard in the left-hand channel.
Although she has enjoyed superb partnerships with fellow pianists Stephen Kovacevich, Lilya Zilberstein, Giorgia Tomassi, et al., her work with Freire has always been imbued with an extra frisson – the sound is superb – one of the finest duo piano recitals in the catalog.
Wrote the critic M.H. in his review for the October 1983 issue of The Gramophone: “These players are both temperamental virtuosos and it is hard to think of them harnessed together, yet this is a far more successful LP than Martha Argerich's previous two-piano recording, with Nicholas Economou (DG 410 616-I, 9/83). That also involved Rachmaninov—the Symphonic Dances—and suffered in comparison with the Vladimir Ashkenazy/Andre Previn reading (Decca SXL6926, 4/80). So does this one of Suite No. 2, for the rival team, again on Decca, convey a greater sense of mystery, of the music's inwardness. Yet Argerich and Freire, besides benefitting from a much warmer recording than the DG one, play with exhilarating fluency and flexibility, catching the evanescent mood of the "Romance" extremely well, and the outer movements' embodiment of physical energy.
“The only other current recording available in the UK of the two-piano edition of Ravel's La valse is by Jean-Philippe Collard and Michel Beroff, a splendid one but obtainable only in a three-LP boxed set (EMI Pathe-Marconi/Conifer 2C 167 73025-7, 5/81). Argerich and Freire are every bit as good, and make this score's sinister underlying tensions fully apparent. At such moments the keyboard version actually seems preferable to the orchestration. Besides it, Lutoshwski's Variations on the expected Paganini theme appear as merely an inventive jeux d'esprit. and the composer himself has spoken of them as "cafe music". They are, though, highly effective, and this performance is aptly dazzling.”
Incidentally, the striking cover photo of Argerich and Freire was taken by Klaus Hennch. The liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket – provided in English, German, and French – were written by Max Harrison.
CONDITION:
The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.
The condition of the jacket is VERY GOOD. There is slight bumping at corners, a bit of creasing, and minor edgewear. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and very attractive in appearance – overall, a very good collector's copy.
The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT and the playback is superb – overall, a very fine collector's copy.
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REFUNDS:
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