Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich (b. Buenos Aires, 1941) made her international breakthrough when she won the International Federick Chopin Competion in Warsaw in 1965. Prior to that she had already began making waves in Europe and had been tutored by Michelangeli, Gulda, and Askanase. Over the years Argerich has performed extensively all over the world and has recorded for EMI, Philips and Deutsche Grammophon. Although she is regarded as one of the greatest living pianists, during the 1970s and 1980s she began to stop performing and recording solo recitals preferring to work with other musicians such as the violinist Gidon Kremer and cellist Misha Maisky. Her annual attendance at the Lugano Festival highlights her continued commitment to chamber music.

Argerich is known for her performances of Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and the Russians, particularly Rachmaninov and Prokofiev. In her personal life she has been married to the conductor Charles Dutoit and the pianist Stephen Kovacevich.

Key Works: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3, Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, Piano Works, Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3, Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3, Schumann: Piano Concerto, Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1