Festival de Lugano 2010

Description

For 8 years, Martha Argerich has gathered her musician friends around her every year during the Festival she founded in Lugano, Switzerland: an entire generation of young talents whom she has managed to discover, sponsor, showcase and guide artistically. It is a unique opportunity to hear these spirited artists play together in an eminently musical and joyful atmosphere. EMI Classics is releasing a 3-CD box set bringing together the best moments from the 2010 Festival, at a very attractive price: €14.18 excl. VAT. The packaging has been completely changed this year: a luxurious box set with cardboard sleeves replaces the jewel case, and a photo of Martha Argerich is featured prominently on the cover (previously as a thumbnail). The Argentine pianist is also more present than in previous editions: in a Schumann violin & piano sonata (No. 1) where she dialogues with Renaud Capuçon, in the Adagio & Allegro with her brother, Gautier Capuçon, and in a flamboyant First Concerto by Chopin with the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (the “house” orchestra in Lugano), but also in a version for 2 pianos of Liszt’s Preludes as well as in Bartók’s Sonata for 2 pianos and percussion. Her friends complete the program, most of them regulars at the Lugano festival: Gabriela Montero, Nicholas Angelich, Alexander Gurning, Stephen Kovacevich, Lilya Zilberstein, as well as Martha’s daughter: Lida Chen. Once again, it is an opportunity to discover an entire section of the repertoire rarely tackled: Granados, Schnittke, Grainger, Korngold. A sparkling, essential disc for lovers of chamber music and piano.