Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich

Pros: Whew. Argerich sweeps all before her in conquest.
Cons: A bit heavy in spots, still rates five. I'd give it six if I could.

I'm a big fan of certain cop shows. In one of my favorites, one detective looks at another co-worker in some perp's apartment, and comments, "How many copies of Don Giovanni does this guy need?"

For me, it's the works of Rachmaninov...

Pros: Piano concertos played with flaming passion and sensitivity
Cons: Not for those who like their music genteel.

So here we are with two of the most famous and daunting concertos for piano and orchestra, written by those Romantic Russians, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. These are live recordings that date back to the early '80s. Argentinian ...

Pros: the most charged, energetic and riveting account of R's PC#3--wonderfully coupled with Tchaikovsky.
Cons: Soon Out of Print, technically not always perfect

Hyperbole is deserved for this record. Argerich is wild and amazing in the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto - and there is a legitimate argument for the case of her "Rock #3" being the 'best' recording out there. Her Tchaikovsky 1st Piano ...

Pros: This live recording of the Rachmaninov 3rd is breathtaking.
Cons: The Tchaikovsky is just banged out. It cannot bear comparison with Van Cliburn's.

This live recording of the Rach 3rd Concerto is one for history and easily demonstrates why Argerich was included in the 'Great Pianists of the 20th Century' series. The first movement is simply magnificent. The famous entrance of the piano in the second...