Martha Argerich Evening Talks
A film by Georges Gachot
Medici Arts 307 3428

Release date August 2008

“If I were a Martha Argerich fan, I would love to see this movie.” A ringing endorsement from none other than the pianist herself, and it must be said that few fans will disagree after watching this DVD! French film-maker Georges Gachot achieved the impossible in persuading the elusive and unpredictable Argerich to agree to an interview. Footage from the resulting three-hour conversation, filmed in 2001 between a rehearsal and a concert of works by Schumann, forms the core of the DVD. It’s a frank and relaxed interview, with Argerich offering many insights into her career, personality and teachers. It was fascinating to hear her talking about the influence of Friedrich Gulda, and to see film of him playing in Vienna in 1968. She explores at length the way she connects emotionally with the music of Schumann in particular, and much of the talk is interspersed with footage of her rehearsing the Schumann concerto with a German orchestra. Given her dislike of the camera, there is a surprising amount of archival footage: a very young Argerich receiving first prize in the Geneva Music Competition in 1957; playing Chopin in Warsaw in 1965; a short clip of a Prokofiev concerto with Previn and the LSO in 1977 – but there is also more recent film of her accompanying and playing chamber music. I’m not quite sure why the film opened with a lengthy Prologue showing Argerich accompanying a young violinist (perhaps to illustrate the considerable encouragement she gives to those starting out in the profession?), but I found the hour-long main film both fascinating and very moving. The ‘extras’ include two-piano Lutoslawski, a Piazzolla trio and three sizzling encores from a 2001 Zurich concert. This DVD will surely appeal to anyone with more than a passing interest in pianists.

Anne McAlister