World-renowned as a bright representative of the piano elite of our time MARTHA ARGERICH was born in Buenos Aires. She began her first piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo Scaramuzza. Considered a child prodigy, she soon performs in public. In 1955, she moved to Europe and continued her studies in London, Vienna and in Switzerland with Bruno Seidlhofer, Friedrich Gulda, Nikita Magaloff, Madeleine Lipatti and Stefan Askenase. In 1957, she won the Bolzano and Geneva Piano Competitions, and in 1965 the Warsaw International Chopin Competition. Since then, she has been one of the most prominent pianists in the world both in popularity and ability.
Martha Argerich is a regular guest at the most prestigious orchestras and festivals in Europe, Japan, America and Israel (under the baton of Zubin Mehta and Lahav Shani). Chamber music takes a significant part of her musical life. She regularly plays and records with Nelson Freire, Alexandre Rabinovitch, Mischa Maisky, Gidon Kremer and Daniel Barenboim. She shares: “This harmony within a group of people gives me a strong and peaceful feeling.”
Although her temperament leads her to the most virtuoso piano works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, she is not limited to this framework, her extensive repertoire includes Bach, Bartok, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Frank, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Messian and others.
Her discography is huge: she has recorded for EMI / Erato, Sony, Philips, Teldec, DGG and others. Her latest recordings include Beethoven’s concerts № 2 and № 3 with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado (Grammy Award), Mozart’s concerts № 20 and № 25 also with Abado, a recital in Berlin with Daniel Barenboim (Mozart, Schubert, Stravinsky), live recording in Buenos Aires of a duet recital with Daniel Barenboim, dedicated to Schumann, Debussy, Bartok (for “Deutsche Grammophon”), A LP with Itzhak Perlman, dedicated to Schumann, Bach, Brahms. Many of her performances were broadcasted on television worldwide.
Martha Argerich has received many awards: »Grammy Award« for Bartók and Prokofiev Concertos, »Gramophon – Artist of the Year«, »Best Piano Concerto Recording of the Year« for Chopin Concertos, »Choc« of the “Monde de la Musique” for her recital in Amsterdam, “Künstler des Jahres Deutscher Schallplatten Kritik”, BBC Music Magazine Award for Shostakovich (EMI – 2007), »Grammy Award« for Prokofiev’s Cinderella with Mikhael Pletnev.
In order to stimulate young performers, since 1998 she is the Artistic Director the BeppuFestival in Japan. IIn 1999 she created the »International Piano Competition and Festival Martha Argerich« in Buenos Aires, and in June 2002 the “Progetto Martha Argerich “in Lugano.
Martha Argerich has received numerous distinctions: »Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres« in 1996. »Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres« in 2004 by the French Government, »Accademica di Santa Cecilia« in Rome in 1997, »Musician of the Year« by Musical America 2001, »The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette« by the Japanese Emperor (for her contribution to the development of musical culture and the support of young artists) and the prestigious »Praemium Imperiale« by the Japan Art Association in 2005, the Kennedy Center Award received by Barack Obama (December 2016); Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, awarded by Sergio Matarella (2018).