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| |  | Yoga and Fitness | Home » » » Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | This is madness in action. Martha Argerich's Rachmaninoff Third is the fastest and most physically exciting you'll ever hear. She's recorded live, and the balances are a little strange as a result. You can also tell that Riccardo Chailly and his orchestra are having a hell of time trying to keep up with her, while anticipating what she's about to do next--but so what? This is as close as you can come to an experience of spontaneous combustion, and survive. The Tchaikovsky is, if possible, even wilder, with quite a few missed notes. But with an artist like Argerich, you simply can't judge the performance one note at a time. So go ahead: live dangerously. --David Hurwitz | | | Product Details: | | | Audio CD Release Date:
| August 15, 1995 | | Studio:
| Philips | | Conductor:
| Sergei Rachmaninov | | Number Of Discs:
| 1 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 73 reviews |
| | | Track Listing: | | | 1. | Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 1. Allegro ma non tanto | | 2. | Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 2. Intermezzo. Adagio | | 3. | Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 3. Finale. Alla breve | | 4. | Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23: 1. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito | | 5. | Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23: 1. Andantino simplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I | | 6. | Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23: 3. Allegro con fuoco | |
| | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 Amazing but not the bestAug 04, 2010
I've been listening to Argerich's Rach 3 quite a bit over the past week. I enjoy it and would recommend people check out this album, but I have to agree that at times it just comes off as way too fast. The ironic thing is that when Argerich explodes through the third movement, it feels less passionate than normal tempo. Almost more a clinical exercise in speed rather than being swept up in the moment.
In any case, this album is worth getting just to get a sense of Argerich's amazing technical prowess. She is one of the most skilled pianists I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. Certainly one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, and we're lucky to have so many excellent recordings from her.
For another excellent, albeit more traditional, Rach 3 check out Ashkenazy's 1963 recording with Anatole Fistoulari and the London Symphony Orchestra. It's available here on Amazon -- it is the CD with both the Rach 2 (Moscow Philharmonic) and Rach 3 on it. If I'm listening to relax and enjoy the music, that's the album I'd choose over this one.
 An exciting performance but missing a crucial partApr 18, 2010
As many reviewers have said, Argerich is quite exciting in this concerto, but I'm amazed that nobody mentions the fact that she plays the short version of the cadenza in the first movement. For me this is a deal-breaker, as the extended cadenza is the highlight of the piece. I wonder why any pianist, especially one given to fireworks like Argerich, would choose the short cadenza. It simply doesn't compare to the long one for drama and virtuosic thrills.
0 of 4 found the following review helpful:
GOOD BUT NOT GREAT!Mar 16, 2010
THE CD WAS A LITTLE BIT DIRTY AND THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF SKIPPING BETWEEN TRACKS AND SOME STATIC NOISE. I HAD TO CLEAN IT THOROUGHLY TWICE. IT PLAYS OK NOW EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONAL SKIPPING. I TESTED IT IN 3 DIFFERENT CD PLAYERS.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 The Keyboard's On Fire!May 12, 2009
I can only echo what so many other five-star reviewers here have noted. Martha owns both of these concertos, and this disc clearly illustrates why.
To those who complain about some missed notes, it's extremely rare for anyone to play either of these difficult pieces from beginning to end without making mistakes. The great majority of piano concerto recordings - both live and studio - are later "corrected" in post-production with digital editing. Hats off to Philips for issuing these two performances untouched. It makes them all the more exciting.
Way to go Martha!!
7 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Argerich good but no HorowitzJan 01, 2009
I've watched Argerich play this piece, and have seen and listened to many, many other recordings of it. The various appraisals are, of course, sincere responses by the listeners who wished to post. My own background includes having a professional classical music family, including a pianist mom, and I grew up hearing (luckily) in person such pianists as Cliburn, Browning, and Graffman. Of course, music isn't a competition. Music is music. So I get a bit tired of comparing pieces and how they are played, as though we were comparing race horses. I do wish to say that although Ms. Argerich can play very, very fast, it has been a revelation to hear the 1941 Horowitz/Barbirolli live recording at Carnegie Hall, which I just received. Not only does he have the speed everyone seems to crave, he has the musicality and creativity that is absent in most other performances. It is, in a word, astonishing. Although sheer speed can be impressive in a physical sort of sense, it is the understanding of the music that really makes me want to listen. In truth, I like Horowitz's Reiner recording better...it is more about the music, but if one wants to watch race horses,then listen to the 1941 recording,and then we can put that to rest.
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