With some performers, it is enough to say their names, and anything else seems superfluous. The pianist Martha Argerich is undoubtedly such a figure. Nonetheless, she does not cultivate any image outside of music, almost never gives interviews, and only rarely expresses political views. She began as a prodigy and overcame a personal crisis to achieve an exceptional career that has lasted since she was eight years old until the present day. A milestone on her path to fame was victory at the Chopin Competition in 1965. Fifteen years later as a respected virtuoso, Argerich was again involved with that competition when she refused to accept the elimination of Ivo Pogorelić: she called him a genius and resigned from the jury.

The pianist, who has long since become a living legend, celebrated her 80th birthday last year. She is still active and welcome on concert stages, to which she brings enormous energy and almost tangible physical power miraculously combined with musicality and lightness. That combination has been characteristic of Martha Argerich throughout her career as an artist.

After Beethoven’s variations on a lovely theme from Mozart’s Magic Flute, she will be joined on the festival stage by Sergei Nakariakov for a performance of Robert Schumann’s lyrical Fantasiestücke. With the talented Maria Meerovitch, the programme returns to Mozart and his Sonata in D major for two pianos.

Martha Argerich was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). She began her first piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo SCARAMUZZA. Considered a child prodigy, she soon began performing in public. In 1955, she moved to Europe and continued her studies in London, Vienna, and in Switzerland with SEIDLHOFER, GULDA, MAGALOFF, Mrs 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 has been rated highly for her performance of the virtuoso piano literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. Her extensive repertoire includes Bach and Bartok, Beethoven and Messiaen, as well as Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Franck, Prokofiev, Stravinski, Shostakovitch, and Tchaikovski.

Though she is regularly invited by the most prestigious orchestras, conductors, and music festivals in Europe, Japan, America, and Israel (with Zubin Mehta and Lahav Shani), chamber music comprises a significant part of her musical life. She regularly plays and records with Nelson FREIRE, Alexandre RABINOVITCH, Mischa MAISKY, Gidon KREMER, and Daniel BARENBOIM: « This harmony within a group of people gives me a strong and peaceful feeling ».

Martha Argerich has recorded for EMI, Sony, Philips, Teldec, and DGG, and many of her performances have been broadcasted on television worldwide. She has received many awards : “Grammy Award” for Bartok 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 Amsterdam’s recital, “Künstler des Jahres Deutscher Schallplatten Kritik”, “Grammy Award” for Prokofiev’s Cinderella with Mikhael Pletnev and recently a “Grammy Award” for Beethoven Concertos 2 & 3 with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra under Claudio Abbado (DGG / Best Instrumental Soloist Performance), “Sunday Times – Record of the Year” and “BBC Music Magazine Award” for her Shostakovitch recording (EMI – 2007). Her latest recordings include Mozart concertos K466 and K503 with Orchestra Mozart et Claudio Abbado and a duo recital with Daniel Barenboim (Deutsche Grammophon.)

Since 1998, she has been the Artistic Director of the Beppu Festival in Japan; in 1999, she created the International Piano Competition and Festival Martha Argerich in Buenos Aires, and in June 2002, the Progetto Martha Argerich in Lugano. In 2018, she launched the Martha Argerich Festival in Hamburg.

Martha Argerich has received numerous distinctions: – “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres” in 1996 and “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 and the prestigious « Praemium Imperiale » by the Japan Art Association in 2005. – Kennedy Center Honors by Barack Obama in December 2016 – Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by Sergio Mattarella in October 2018.

On December 12 at the Élysée Palace, Martha Argerich was elevated to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor by French President Emmanuel Macron.

source: Artemon Music

The Rudolfinum is one of the most important Neo-Renaissance edifices in the Czech Republic. In its conception as a multi-purpose cultural centre it was quite unique in Europe at the time of its construction. Based on a joint design by two outstanding Czech architects, Josef Zítek and Josef Schultz, a magnificent building was erected serving for concerts, as a gallery, and as a museum. The grand opening on 7 February 1885 was attended by Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, in whose honour the structure was named. In 1896 the very first concert of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra took place in the Rudolfinum's main concert hall, under the baton of the composer Antonín Dvořák whose name was later bestowed on the hall.