Argerich plays Gaspard de la Nuit - Scarbo

[fabptitpom]

Reminds me very much Islamey

Awesome performance by an awesome pianist

[wagneristhebest]

technique of the greek gods, a masterful aura on stage, wondrous musical detail and commitment. But an Argerich was never transcendental; the ringing poeticism of Rubinstein and Cortot, the tonal fantasy of Pogorelic and Arrau... Argerich - A wonderful pianist, but not a genius of the 20th century. 'The Art of Piano' is a documentary that I feel accurately portrays the geniuses of the 20th century, with some exceptions.

[Scarbogn]

@wagneristhebest Matter of taste.

[ansonyeung825]

her performance is the best

[iansquared3]

the ending is priceless

[cubanbach]

To look at the score while Martha is playing, is to peer deep into the unmatchable genius of the pianist who can pull this off so deftly. Any mind that can scale these heights, must be among the most gifted of all time. Martha, I bow to your gifts, perseverance and astounding talents.

[johnst66xx]

This is astonishing. She turns the piano into an orchestra -but its her own orchestra that doesn't sound like anyone else's...

[mcbainst]

Pogorelich owns it

[wagneristhebest]

@mcbainst Listen to Michelangeli's performance of this work. It is so intricate, and each note is like a sparkling diamond.

[mcbainst]

@wagneristhebest I have.....aaand Pogo owns it!!

[rigel48]

@mcbainst I got the famous recording of Gaspard by Pogorelich, and I must say that I find it widely overrated. His scarbo is just a breathless race played as fast as he can with no much care about Ravel's dynamic markings, and very far away of the atmosphere of distress and fear we got in the poem and so well expressed in Ravel's music. Michelangeli and Argerich have as much virtuosity than Pogo, are much more faithful to Ravel's intention and better interprets of Gaspard de la Nuit.

[RH98]

@rigel48 I much prefer Argerich's colouration. At risk of sounding ignorant, to me Pogo's only seems to have one timbre (e.g. really dry, detatched and staccato). Argerich paints with sound.

[rigel48]

@RH98 Yes, Argerich is a true master of sound. In this work, she has a tonal command that few can acheive. She is able to follow Ravel's dynamic markings with an extraordinary accuracy. With her we hear music not an empty technical display!

[FlyingBlackAndWhite]

I like this quite a lot. I would definitely place Agerich alongside with Valentina Lisitsa.

Agerich's Power in this piece really shows and her skill is simply amazing.

Im very impressed by this recordings

[wagneristhebest]

@FlyingBlackAndWhite You'd place Valentina Lisitsa with Argerich? I've seen Lisitsa's videos, she is good. But do not compare her to such a great pianistt as Argerich! I would argue that Valentina herself would feel angry that you have made such a statement. She is no where near as great as Argerich with the piano.

[elbarto20101]

MARTA ARGERICH UN ORGULLO ARGENTINO ,COMO EL TANGO

[whorace3]

She's over-whelming. I can't get over this performance. She's a singular, briiliant phenomenon. She plays Scarbo fearlessly, like everything else,

[jamiebonline]

Thanks for posting with the score - it shows Argerich's freedom as well as unerring musicality

[huzzzzzzahh]

Ravel forgot a vital part to composing; making pieces possible to play.

[youwel]

oh good lord. Such a terribly hard piece. Play the whole set of Gaspar de la Nuit and then the Liszt Sonata + Variation by Brahms on a theme by Handel = dead pianist...

Such an incredible performance. Argerich ROCKS! =)

[2008skinnywhite]

@youwel I went to a concert a while ago where the pianist, Mark Gasser, played Gaspard, followed by Messiaen's complete Vingt Regards in one sitting. An Everest of a performance.

[ericsteph]

this piece is so difficult, she makes it look easier lol

[arcturian627]

Sheer virtuosity meets great musicality! The atmosphere is perfect! I could hear Ravel's insanity, passion and darkness so clearly here. Definitely my favorite interpretation.

[nintendomaster96312]

Extremely hard piece to play and interpreted very well. Extrodinary technique and music+tonal variation created. Very enjoyable to hear!!

[mlr2107]

Reading this music causes me a headache. (in a good way)

[bobomber]

how anyone reads such ugly looking music is beyond me :-(

[MrAkihiros]

powerful and passionate.... Shades of Liszt and Scriabin... I wonder if there's an orchestral version.

[LeDairyQueen]

@MrAkihiros It was orchestrated by Marius Constant in 1988. I've never heard it performed and can't afford to buy any of the recordings that I've found of it, but I know some exist.

[MrAkihiros]

@LeDairyQueen Thanks for the info. :)

[gmpeck322]

On the last frame of the video, how is humanly possible to play the lowest B and the middle B and D together in the same hand? Or is that just an ossia?

[manofthehoff]

the low B is held with a pedal while the upper notes are played, and then vice versa

[MATTDUNCAN1]

fascinating...and how does she achieve the 'fluttring' in the pedalling.??? brilliant woman..i love her

[gmpeck322]

What are the curved lines between measures around 1:50?

[ThatRachGirl]

Ties. the G#, C# and Fx in treble with E#, A#, and Cx are held throughout the 9 measures.

It's not written as a normal tie, as it would be quite messy to have to re-write those notes at each measure, and draw more ties from there. It's cleaner, though more rarely found (since few pieces have notes held for that long!)

[ThatRachGirl]

Well no, let me rephrase that. Few pieces have notes held that long *with so many smaller notes played within the longer note*.

[gc65531941]

When was this recording done? It sounds very different (slower in most places) to the May 1978 version.

[flic71]

Il miglior Scarbo di sempre!!!

[Tiszt]

A lot of pianist will be agitated in those parts having rapid movement of hands, and mis-counted the the length of the notes, but Argerich can handle both

[ikemaster9]

Valentina Lisitsa's is the best.

[Liebromeistal]

Michelangeli plays this better

[Scarbogn]

Everybody has different tastes so it's normal if someone prefers one performance over another, I like Argerich better :).

[ludvanbeethoven]

@Liebromeistal Considering ravel instructs dynamic markings of ppp all the way to fff in this piece, I would say that the piano should be used to it's very limits at both extremes. The more exaggerated the dynamics, the better. especially in gaspard. In the first movement of gaspard, ondine, ravel even employs marking of "il plus piano possible" meaning as soft as possible. This is truly rare for a composer to ask and should show how far ravel thought the pianist should go.

[favamolle99]

of course

[aldebussy]

There's one thing that really deserves showers of compliment...her staccatos! There's fascinating!

[troppofiato]

A performance never to be forgotten. Argerich's musical imagination is every match for Rave'ls music - with the phenomenal piano technique to make it happen on this level.

[cerzule]

The score is every bit as complicated and intimidating as I feared it would be. What a tremendous performance, though! This piece is pure malevolent insanity, and I love every minute of it.

[ifigeniakatika]

Η ΑRGERICH πραγματικά εκπληκτική οταν ερμηνεύει Ravel.

Mπράβο για την εκπληκτική επιλογή σου.Φιλάκια απο την πατρίδα.Ιφιγένεια.5*****

[Scarbogn]

I agree if you are saying nobody plays Scarbo as well as Argerich, :P

[thisismymoniker]

@Scarbogn

Check out Benjamin Grosvenor's interpretation he's only 17 by my goodness it's pretty good! (It's at his website just google benjamin grosvenor to find it and go to the 'AUDIO' section - it'll be worth your time!!)

[scriabinwasmydad]

Argerich' ερμηνεία του s Ravel' s ' Scarbo' ήταν πάντα καταπληκτικός. Είναι πραγματικά scary πώς καταπληκτικός αυτή είναι!!!

[suellio]

I agree if you are saying nobody plays Scarbo as well as Argerich, again :P

[ieronim2003]

the video version with here playing this piece has been erased F**k

[Scarbogn]

As soon as I get my computer fixed I will upload Ondine and Le Gibet versions with score.

[looney1023]

@Scarbogn

almost done with ondine and le gibet?

[Scarbogn]

@looney1023 I wasn't expecting that many views lol, to be honest I just uploaded the suite so I could listen to it wherever I went.

As soon as I have a chance I will get Ondine and Le Gibet done, I'm glad people liked it.

[relaxanimal]

little bit difficult for me to understand this piece.

[Powerslider]

for me too. have you tried to listen to the first part of this? i find it alot more accessable.

[piedijon]

creepy

[coasterman16]

This has got to be the clearest performance of this piece I've ever heard.

[airad2]

The version w/the score is GREAT!