Martha Argerich, Evening Talks (2003)

Martha Argerich is the last remaining pianist of legend. A wild child and a rebel at heart, this legendary Argentinean musician is surrounded by an aura of mystery: some find her too uncompromising, others generous and beautiful, yet to all she is without doubt incredibly talented. For the very first time on camera Martha Argerich shares with us her memories, confides in us her doubts, and transmits to us her incredible appetite for music making. Images of Argentina, rehearsals in the concert hall or at home, excerpts of recent concerts and archival clips complete this unique film on one of the most secretive and endearing artists of our time.

Martha Discloses to a Degree

If you are a Martha Argerich fan like me, you'll likely greatly enjoy this video. Ms. Argerich has been said to be reclusive, impulsive, often haunted by stage fright, and generally shy of the limelight. Coupled with her impassioned, outside-the-envelope playing, Martha engenders enduring admiration and curiosity among her fans. In this approximately 70 minute video, Martha indulges us with a glimpse of her artistic traits, passions, and motivations.

The video includes a number of performance excerpts from throughout her career; and particularly, Ms. Argerich describes her special reverence for a favorite teacher from her teenage years, the late Friedrich Gulda. She also describes how she learned the Prokofiev 3rd piano concerto, subliminally.

For anyone who would enjoy seeing and hearing this artist's personal insight into her life as an esteemed pianist and as a hair-raising musical genius, buy this video. September 19, 2008

Martha Argerich Evening Talks

Fascinating conversation with a musical genius. Fabulous insider look at a rehearsal of the Schumann Piano Concerto. I treasure this DVD about an artist that heretofore has been very inaccessible.

John McD. Wolff, MD September 13, 2008

Perspectives

I did, of course, know of Martha Argerich. I have a copy of her debut recording, when she was a teenager of growing international renown. This movie goes back and forth in her career, beginning in medias res, working with a young violinist. The film contains clips of her earlier performances, interspersed with her "evening talks" with associates and the film maker. Her perspectives on her career, her professional relationships, and her relationships with music/composers is beyond enlightening. It is amazing to watch her work. This film will repay both your purchase and your study. September 7, 2008

What a powerful woman.

I watched this in awe. Martha Argerich, as most of us know, is an iconic wonder of the art of piano. She knows the instrument so intimately. The instrument gives to her what most of us dream it could give to us.

This DVD takes you into her lounge, sits you in front of the fireplace and serves you a cup of tea. What an amazingly filmed interview. The relaxed nature of it is so enticing, and makes you feel rude to stand up and leave the room for a toilet break. I just watched it in awe.

There are recordings of her playing some of the most amazing and characterised pieces ever written with such ownership that it would make you, if you are a pianist, want to give up your instrument completely and become a milk man (either that, or inspire you to the greatest degree of musicality). It's impossible to hear a false note by Martha. In this video, there is a section where you are sitting in a rehearsal of Schumann's Piano Concerto...and not once does she look troubled, and not once is there a notational error.

Im ranting now, so Ill simply say this: Buy this DVD to get an interview with Martha Argerich that will make you inspired, jealous, lustful (for music), defeated, happy, awe-filled, warm and satisfied...all at the same time. August 31, 2008

Superlative

Guchot's documentary is about Martha Argerich's oneness with the music she plays. We knew it existed already from hearing her performances. Here she articulates it in ways that are candid, joyful, earthy, and most eloquent in her charming manner. She is never pedantic. These conversations reveal the deeply personal and dynamic relationship with her art and the composers who make it happen. Only such humility and integrity, and perhaps a fundamentally iron will, can make her transcendental technique soar in interpretations which have been prodigious and unsurpassed in my concert-going life. Perhaps film gives us a glimpse about a way of being one wish one could achieve. Most tellingly, it is not about the applause, which seems immaterial and irrelevant when dealing with an artist of this caliber (indeed, it is more a release for the audience than a nutrient for a performer in this class..... though they all probably love it). The joy is in the playing. It is all about living the music.

This is a unique dvd. Not quite an interview, rather she talks about her music, playing with others, the personal way she has of relating to the composers she performs...... when performing Lizst and Chopin in the same evening she must make sure to play them equally as true to themselves so one won't be jealous of the other. I truly understand her respect and love for Schumann as I totally identify with it. In her casual conversation, these ideas make music a living thing and one gets a glimpse of Argerich's total dedication to her art. This is indeed Martha Argerich conversing about how and why she is a pianist and one gets the information not from a script but from seemingly extemporaneous comments, from body language, indeed from aptly inserted performance footage, including youngster Argerich. Very little biographical information is included, only what surfaces in context of discussions of her music making. This is fine, perhaps even welcomed. The only regret I have is that the documentary goes by too quickly. We are getting glimpses of this dear and revered lady's musical soul and one wants to hold on.

There are some wonderful performances attached as bonus. Particularly beautiful and exciting are her encores from a concert in Switzerland (Scarlatti, Chopin, Bach), and the 2 piano version of Lutoslawski Paganini Variations performed by Argerich and the wonderful Mauricio Vallina.

Interspersed at convenient intervals throughout the film, there are scenes of Buenos Aires and the Argentine country side that without taking the narrative anywhere, nonetheless add dimension to the discussion. Conversation seemlessly flows back and forth from mostly French, to English with some German and a little Spanish thrown in. The film is well subtitled.

Argerich as an artist has always brought me great pleasure and solace. She has nurtured up-and-coming talent like no other. There is no pianist like her and I feel lucky to have been living in her time. One is always waiting for the opportunity to say "Thank you," so let this, even if far removed, be one such.

Strongly recommended, indispensible for all lovers of music for the piano.
August 15, 2008

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