Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / The Nutcracker Suite for two pianos

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ARGERICH / ABBADO / BERLIN P. O. TCHAIKOVSKY: PIANO CONCERTO N. 1

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Some artists grow into a sort of proprietary relationship with certain pieces of music. If anyone today owns this concerto, it’s Martha Argerich. She’s recorded it three times, and this latest version seems to sum up an entire lifetime of living with and loving the music. Not only does Argerich simply find more in the notes than almost anyone else, she also does it with a sense of complete spontaneity and naturalness. She’s also the most exciting pianist alive, which certainly doesn’t hurt in such dazzling music. Claudio Abbado is one of her regular concerto accompanists, and he knows better than to try to take over an Argerich performance. This is her show, and he gives her the kind of support she needs to feel free to work her interpretive magic. — David Hurwitz