Guys, listen to the sound quality of the recording. This is not a new recording, which means that she was very young when she performed it. I am aware that there are faults in the playing, and it may not be as good as Pollini or Ashkenazy, but heck, were they 18 when they recorded it? Because today I find that her playing isoften superior to theirs.
i love hearing little 18 year old martha go for broke in that presto con fuoco! the recording quality is sadly not great, but i'm so happy this was recorded... you never hear anyone play the end like that, and sure, that's probably because mistakes are bound to happen when someone does, and of course it's not for everyone. but i love going wherever martha takes me. so much fuoco! brava.
this is my all time favourite interpretation. i love the fact that she doesn't edit out the one or two mistakes she makes!! i wouldn't be talking about them if everybody wasn't getting all upset about them. if mistakes are that bad, i suppose there would only be a handful of composers because the others would be to afraid their compositions might be "ruined" by a few errors...
I bought this on itunes today, and though it's not her absolute best recording, it's still a joy. Hey, it's Martha - you love her or hate her. Plus it's really interesting to hear her in her earlier days. So please everyone, don't criticize for wrong notes etc., the women's a goddess whether you like her or not.
honestly I was expecting a better interpretation from her , she is one of my favourite pianists... I prefer Horowitz's or Rubinstein or Zimerman's interpretation
I don't know what you were expecting concerning the interpretation of this ballade (Horowitz's is quite different from Zimerman's), but for me it is without any doubt one of the very best. The epic character of the ballade is very well conveyed, and her touch quality, her perfect phrasing and her good balancing of the tempi have few competitors. I like also the pianists you mentioned (and some others), but Argerich's interpretation is in the same class (at least for me!)
...Is that a mistake I hear, approximately at the end of 5:43? Music of this difficulty seems even more daunting when pianists that have practically been playing since birth have occasional problems with it.
@T3hL337Sesshy Even in "Presto con Fuoco" she wrongs a few notes. But despite of this, even if the notes were all correct, i definitely don't like her interpretation, the end, specially the octaves, the presto con fuoco is too fast. But everyone plays Chopin with his own heart :D
The presto con fuoco is at last played as it should be : fast with fire !
Argerich is one of the very few who can keep this speed during all the coda when so many slow down when they reach the 9th bar of the Presto con fuoco. And I do not hear any wrong notes here.
@rigel48 i respect martha, but this sounds really midi-like. with some little wrong notes...sorry, but i like more "romantica" and felt performances such as pollini (in live)
Oh no... where's the video with the recording from the early '80s? It was the most mind-blowing rendition of this piece I've ever heard. I think I'll shit a brick if I never find it again... gah, I don't know why I didn't save it, I used to play it over and over and over.
Very fine playing for an 18 year old young women. Martha Argerich is one of my all time favourite Chopin interpreters - when considering the most talented Chopin interpreter, pianists like Rubinstein and Cortot come almost immediately in to my mind. Perahia, Argerich and Zimerman are the greatest living.
You can disagree if you share a different opinion.
There several different kind of interpretations by hundreds of pianists.
Liked this - anyway. Argerich is one the greatest living.
I like the youthful exuberance in this interpretation! Brava, Argerich!
kingjepoy 5 months ago
dont like this interpretation at all.
Erikk91 6 months ago
Guys, listen to the sound quality of the recording. This is not a new recording, which means that she was very young when she performed it. I am aware that there are faults in the playing, and it may not be as good as Pollini or Ashkenazy, but heck, were they 18 when they recorded it? Because today I find that her playing isoften superior to theirs.
andrew190495 7 months ago
A bit later in Carnegie Hall (1981) recording provided by "user" Facconti.
It's really SOMETHING.
suniforlife 10 months ago
@suniforlife post a link, please :)
pydbl 10 months ago
Comment removed
suniforlife 10 months ago
@pydbl I tried but the system refused the link. Please search for Argerich Ballade, and you will find it quickly.
suniforlife 10 months ago
@pydbl I tried but failed to post the link :( look at Facconti's channel please.
suniforlife 8 months ago
@suniforlife
I agree with you. The Carnegie hall recording is a great moment of music.
metphmet 8 months ago
Definitely one of the best performances of the piece. Love the A Major passage.
forgottenbooks 1 year ago
i love hearing little 18 year old martha go for broke in that presto con fuoco! the recording quality is sadly not great, but i'm so happy this was recorded... you never hear anyone play the end like that, and sure, that's probably because mistakes are bound to happen when someone does, and of course it's not for everyone. but i love going wherever martha takes me. so much fuoco! brava.
semicolin 1 year ago
this is my all time favourite interpretation. i love the fact that she doesn't edit out the one or two mistakes she makes!! i wouldn't be talking about them if everybody wasn't getting all upset about them. if mistakes are that bad, i suppose there would only be a handful of composers because the others would be to afraid their compositions might be "ruined" by a few errors...
silvr94 1 year ago
I bought this on itunes today, and though it's not her absolute best recording, it's still a joy. Hey, it's Martha - you love her or hate her. Plus it's really interesting to hear her in her earlier days. So please everyone, don't criticize for wrong notes etc., the women's a goddess whether you like her or not.
maternalheart66 1 year ago
Definitely, agree with Erikk91
kikorach3 1 year ago
The sun burns with the same heating light.The ungrateful speak only of the spots,the grateful speak of light.
barahiel 1 year ago
Oh my gawd. Martha delivers the goods. I am out of breath.
elgar34 1 year ago
the coda is to quick and not romantic ! But it's Argerich's talent !
Venoks 1 year ago
honestly I was expecting a better interpretation from her , she is one of my favourite pianists... I prefer Horowitz's or Rubinstein or Zimerman's interpretation
marcocubaXY 1 year ago
@marcocubaXY
I don't know what you were expecting concerning the interpretation of this ballade (Horowitz's is quite different from Zimerman's), but for me it is without any doubt one of the very best. The epic character of the ballade is very well conveyed, and her touch quality, her perfect phrasing and her good balancing of the tempi have few competitors. I like also the pianists you mentioned (and some others), but Argerich's interpretation is in the same class (at least for me!)
rigel48 1 year ago
...Is that a mistake I hear, approximately at the end of 5:43? Music of this difficulty seems even more daunting when pianists that have practically been playing since birth have occasional problems with it.
T3hL337Sesshy 1 year ago
@T3hL337Sesshy Even in "Presto con Fuoco" she wrongs a few notes. But despite of this, even if the notes were all correct, i definitely don't like her interpretation, the end, specially the octaves, the presto con fuoco is too fast. But everyone plays Chopin with his own heart :D
Erikk91 1 year ago
@Erikk91
The presto con fuoco is at last played as it should be : fast with fire !
Argerich is one of the very few who can keep this speed during all the coda when so many slow down when they reach the 9th bar of the Presto con fuoco. And I do not hear any wrong notes here.
What version do you like so ?
rigel48 1 year ago
@rigel48 i respect martha, but this sounds really midi-like. with some little wrong notes...sorry, but i like more "romantica" and felt performances such as pollini (in live)
Erikk91 1 year ago
@Erikk91 It's just differene, more vertical interpretation... But I agree that Scherzo style fits her better than this piece.
Freddran 11 months ago
Oh no... where's the video with the recording from the early '80s? It was the most mind-blowing rendition of this piece I've ever heard. I think I'll shit a brick if I never find it again... gah, I don't know why I didn't save it, I used to play it over and over and over.
T3hL337Sesshy 1 year ago
@T3hL337Sesshy I'm wondering the same thing.... i didn't save it either. i feel like a total ass. please let me know if you find it again!
kerrybeth48885 1 year ago
I wonder if I do not prefer this version to the one of the great Horowitz. Both are full of genius.
rigel48 1 year ago
Very fine playing for an 18 year old young women. Martha Argerich is one of my all time favourite Chopin interpreters - when considering the most talented Chopin interpreter, pianists like Rubinstein and Cortot come almost immediately in to my mind. Perahia, Argerich and Zimerman are the greatest living.
You can disagree if you share a different opinion.
There several different kind of interpretations by hundreds of pianists.
Liked this - anyway. Argerich is one the greatest living.
SchizoF20 2 years ago 10
Martha Argerich is the best. 1959? You serious? She was 18 years old then. That's even before she won the International Frederic Chopin Competition.
pipeorganloverNJP 2 years ago
Ce morceau est un des plus beaux au monde.
Le talent de Martha Argerich rend hommage au génie de Frédéric Chopin.
lilimaniac 2 years ago
OOOOO! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I don't have this CD where i live and probably never will.
th3wing3dpaint3r 2 years ago
@th3wing3dpaint3r
Where do you live? You can purchase this CD online. Perhaps.
pydbl 2 years ago
@pydbl I live in the middle east :D
th3wing3dpaint3r 2 years ago
can't you buy online?
her0esfan 2 years ago
@her0esfan probably shipping would cost a fortune...
pydbl 2 years ago
I'm not sure. My parents aren't big fans of online shopping. They're victims of online fraud :D
th3wing3dpaint3r 2 years ago