Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, Martha Argerich, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Kirill Kondrashin - Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

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 Amazon.com essential recording

Argerich good but no Horowitz

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. January 1, 2009

Spellbinding

Martha Argerich is a magnificent pianist. She is a force of nature. Her physicality is commanding and brilliant. Her unique interpretations are bold and compelling. Unlike many CDs, the fact the recording is of a "live" performance, does not detract from its impact. I have been fortunate to attend a few of her concerts (happily, she DID appear each time!) and this CD recaptured, for me, the excitement of her magic. November 13, 2008

Electrifying playing

This CD is worth getting for the performance of Rach 3 alone. I will not deny that Argerich's playing is controversial and unconventional. If you're looking for a textbook performance of this piece, go somewhere else. Argerich is so aggressive that at times you can hear the orchestra struggling to keep pace with her - but what excitement! Even after listening to this recording numerous times, I find myself on the edge of my seat. This recording makes the piece come alive for me in a way that perhaps only Horowitz can match. September 13, 2008

Do NOT believe the hype

I heard nothing but wonderful things about this recording, and when I finally gave in and bought the CD, I have never been more let down. Both of these concerti are favorites of mine, and I have studied the scores for both quite intimately. I also have numerous recordings of these works, but none fall as short as this one. It is definitely at the bottom of the pile.

The only thing that sets this recording apart from all other Rach 3's out there is the speed. I will give Argerich this much: she has a lot of balls to play this monster at that break-neck speed, but she just doesn't have the hands. The only recording I can find that is faster than this is Rachmaninoff's own version of it, and he had mammoth hands that could handle his unbelievable tempi.

Here is the unavoidable truth: she misses notes EVERYWHERE. How can anyone, musician or not, sit and listen to this piece, and not notice how she's slaughtering it? There are obvious mistakes throughout the piece, and it makes the piece very difficult for me, as a musician and a great lover of this piece, to listen to her. I think the absolute worst spot for me is in the last movement, after the orchestra brings back the initial tempo, when the trumpets blare the main theme, and she has her huge octave jumps. She plays an incorrect note that is so obviously wrong, and she holds the pedal over the entire bar, making the whole passage a muddled mess. It drives me crazy every time I hear it. Somewhere, Rachmaninoff is rolling over in his grave because of this recording. It's just all wrong.

Another problem I had with this piece was how separated she was from the orchestra. There were places when her ridiculous tempi were throwing the orchestra out of control. Especially in the last movement, it sounds like the orchestra and Argerich have never played together as an ensemble. It feels like they have to rush themselves to try and keep up with her. Most noticeable spots are between 0:50-2:00. Only when they play without her do they seem 100% together, and even then, they have the occasional pitch issue (flutes and oboes, that one is especially for you).

The Tchaik seems to be a bit better that the Rach, but not by much. She has fewer mistakes in this piece, though they are still apparent, and in-your-face. Her tempo for the 3rd movement is fantastic, though she again loses the orchestra in spots and her fingers stray to the wrong keys here and there. The worst spot in this whole concerto is at 14:57 in the first movement. Here we have huge orchestral chords, alternated with huge piano rolls. Her first chord is obviously wrong, and does not correct it until the third time she plays the chord. The third movement is the highlight of this CD, because you will NOT find a faster version of this movement. The listener must take into account, however, the plethora of mistakes within the first minute (the ending is quite good).

I honestly have no idea why practically every reviewer on this site thinks this recording is the shining star of the Rach 3, but it most definitely is not! If you want speed with tons of mistakes, buy this recording. Otherwise, I highly reccommend Kissin's interpretation (Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.3, etc.). It is one of the slower interpretations, but the passion is there, and so is the technique. You could not ask for a more flawless performance (which is also live). If you want speed with perfection, but not much life, I reccommend Ashkenazy with the Royal Concertgebouw and Bernard Haitink (Rachmaninov: The Four Piano Concertos). As for the Tchaik Concerto, I reccommend Lang Lang's version with Chicago (Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos). It is absolutely superb.

So if you can look past all the mistakes throughout this CD (I have never heard more in just one compact disc), feel free to buy this recording, but believe me when I say that the rating of 2 stars out of 5 is a mercy-rating from me. August 15, 2008

Best ever

By far the greatest interpratation ever of Rachmaninov's 3rd. piano concerto! Overflowing with vitality and yet tender with feeling at the same time. WOW. May 10, 2008

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