ARTISTS

Piano Martha Argerich

PROFILE


Martha ARGERICH was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). She began her first piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo SCARAMUZZA. Considered a child prodigy, she soon performs in public. In 1955, she moved to Europe and continued her studies in London, Vienna and in Switzerland with SEIDLHOFER, GULDA, MAGALOFF, Mrs LIPATTI et Stefan ASKENASE.

En 1957, she wins the Bolzano and Geneva piano competitions, and in 1965 the Warsaw International Chopin Competition. Since then, she has been one of the most prominent pianists in the world in both popularity and ability.

Martha Argerich has been rated highly for her performance of the virtuoso piano literature of the XIX and XX centuries. Her large repertoire includes Bach and Bartok, Beethoven and Messiaen, as well as Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Franck, Prokofiev, Stravinski, Shostakovitch, Tchaikovski.

Though permanently invited by the most prestigious orchestras, conductors and music festivals in Europe, Japan and in America, chamber music takes a significant part of her musical life. She regularly plays and records with pianists Nelson FREIRE and Alexandre RABINOVITCH, cellist Mischa MAISKY and violonist Gidon KREMER : "This harmony within a group of people gives me a strong and peaceful feeling".

In 1996, Martha ARGERICH has been named « Officier des Arts et Lettres » by the French Government and in 1997 « Accademica di Santa Cecilia di Roma ». From 1998 she is the Artistic Director of the Beppu Festival in Japan and in 1999 she creates the International Piano Competition Martha Argerich in Buenos Aires.

Many of her performances were shown on television world-wide. Martha ARGERICH made recordings for EMI, Sony, Philips, Teldec and DGG.

In 2000 Martha Argerich is collecting many awards for her EMI recordings : « Grammy Award » for the Concertos by Bartok and Prokofiev, « Gramophon - Artist of the Year », « Best Piano Concerto Recording of the Year » for the Chopin, « Choc » of the Monde de la Musique for her Amsterdam’s recital, « Künstler des Jahres Deutscher Schallplatten Kritik ».

« Musical America » designate Martha Argerich « 2001 Musician of the Year ».

GALLERY

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