Composer: Anton Arensky, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Astor Piazzólla, Mikhail Pletnev, Sergey Rachmaninov, Maurice Ravel, Charles Camille Saint-Saëns, Robert Schumann, Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer: Stephen Kovacevich, Renaud Capuçon, Martha Argerich, Lilya Zilberstein, Dora Schwarzberg, Lucia Hall, Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg, Mark Drobinsky, Akane Sakai, Lily Maisky, Alissa Margulis, Mischa Maisky, Corrado Giuffredi, Zora Slokar, Vincent Godel, Karin Lechner, Alexandre Gurning, Alexandre Debrus, Giorgia Tomassi, Alessandro Stella, Eduardo Hubert, Alexander Mogilewsky
Orchestra: Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Conductor: Mikhail Pletnev
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Catalogue: 2670512
Release: 2009
Size: 961 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
01. Mozart: Andante and Variations in G for Piano Duet, K501
Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121
02. I. Ziemlich langsam und energisch – Lebhaft
03. II. Sehr lebhaft
04. III. Leise, einfach (etwas lebhafter – etwas bewegter – tempo wie vorher)
05. IV. Bewegt
Arensky: Quintet in D Major, Op.51
06. I. Allegro moderato
07. II. Andante con variazioni
08. III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
09. IV. Allegro moderato
10. Saint-Saëns: Scherzo for 2 Pianos, Op. 87
CD 02
01. Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8
Rachmaninov: Suite No. 1 (Fantaisie-tableaux), Op. 5
02. I. Barcarolle
03. II. La nuit… l’amour
04. III. Les larmes
05. IV. Pâques
Janáček: Concertino, JW VII / 11
06. I. Moderato
07. II. Pi¨ mosso
08. III. Con moto
09. IV. Allegro
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances
10. Op.46 No. 1
11. Op.72 No. 4
12. Op.46 No. 7
13. Op.72 No. 2
CD 03
Piazzólla: Tre tanghi
01. 3 minutos con la realidad
02. Oblivion
03. Libertango
04. Ravel: Introduction et Allegro (version for piano duo)
Piazzólla: Los Cuatro Estaciones
05. I. Verano Porteño
06. II. Otoño Porteño
07. III. Invierno Prorteño
08. IV. Primavera Porteña
Pletnev: Fantasia Elvetica
09. I. Maestoso
10. II. Tranquillo
11. III. Temps di marcia – Andante
12. IV. Tempo di polka – Più vivo – Allegro
The irresistible ingredients of the Progetto Martha Argerich – world class performances of well-known, lesser-known and barely-known music by the legendary pianist and a “multi-generational artistic family” of musical friends – have established Lugano as a leading destination for summer music festival-goers. For the sixth year in a row, EMI is proud to release a 3-CD set of live recordings from the festival, making the inspirational music making of these chamber music concerts available to a wider audience.
The 2008 festival release welcomes back familiar Argerich Lugano collaborators such as Virgin Classics violinist Renaud Capuçon, Mischa Maisky, Lilya Zilberstein, Stephen Kovacevich and Dora Schwarzberg.
Repertoire highlights include first recordings by Martha Argerich of works by Janacek, Piazzolla and Mikhail Pletnev. Four of Dvorák’s popular Slavonic Dances (two each from Op. 46 and Op. 72) and the Saint-Saëns Scherzo are complemented by two youthful works: Shostakovich’s rarely performed Piano Trio No. 1 and Rachmaninov’s Suite No. 1 for two pianos. The deeply romantic Piano Quintet by Anton Arensky (1861-1906) demonstrates the freshness and atmospheric immediacy of a handful of excellent works by this lesser-known Russian composer. Also represented are works for varying instrumental combinations by Mozart, Schumann, Ravel and Piazzolla. And Fantasia Elvetica (Swiss Fantasy) shows the compositional feather in the cap of the brilliant pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev, who has over 30 orchestral and chamber works to his credit, including some celebrated piano transcriptions. Filled with Swiss folk tunes and evoking shepherds and cows on the meadows, Fantasia Elvetica was composed in 2006 as a tribute to the composer’s adopted home. Pletnev leads the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana with Martha Argerich and Alexander Mogilewsky as the soloists.
No other pianist in the music world today nurtures and promotes talented emerging artists with the same level of personal commitment and belief as Martha Argerich. Her infectious spirit fires her own performances and partnerships as well as those of her colleagues and protégés. In the words of the Financial Times, “…the music flies off the page, like a high-calibre jam session in which the participants throw away worldly cares and listen to each other in the moment of performance. There’s polish aplenty, as one might expect of well-established musicians, but more to the point, the CD [of highlights of the 2007 Festival] radiates the freshness and electricity of a special occasion. What’s so endearing about Argerich’s festival concept is that she blends younger players with more experienced colleagues, so there’s a cross-fertilisation of ideas. Even when she plays no part … the same invigorating spirit presides.”
The 2005 and 2006 Live from the Lugano Festival collections were nominated for Grammy Awards.
“EMI’s latest collection of Lugano recordings [2007 season] is one of the best so far, largely because it is dominated by the great lady herself – and because this is clearly the atmosphere in which Argerich is most relaxed and able to give of her dazzling, inspirational best. … All the performances convey a sense of sheer enjoyment” The Guardian, April 2008
“The delightful festival where youth meets experience and both benefit: […] friends are the best music-makers.” Gramophone
“These annual live sets from the Lugano Festival are one of the delights of the year.” The Observer