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'[[File:Martha argerich photo.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Martha Argerich, photographed in 2015.]] <!-- Note: Please do not add an infobox (see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Classical music#Biographical infoboxes]]). --> '''Martha Argerich''' (born June 5, 1941) is an [[Argentine]] classical [[pianist]], who is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the second half of the 20th century. ==Early life== [[File:Martha Argerich NYWTS.jpg|thumb|right|160px|21-year-old Martha Argerich in 1962]] Argerich was born in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]].<ref>{{Cite news|title = An Enigmatic Pianist Reclaims Her Stardom|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/25/arts/an-enigmatic-pianist-reclaims-her-stardom.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2000-03-25|access-date = 2016-02-04|issn = 0362-4331|first = Anthony|last = Tommasini}}</ref> Her paternal ancestors were Catalans based in Buenos Aires since the 18th century. Her maternal grandparents were [[Jewish]] immigrants from the [[Russian Empire]], who settled in Colonia Villa Clara in the [[Entre Ríos Province|Entre Ríos province]]—one of the colonies established by [[Maurice de Hirsch|Baron de Hirsch]] and the [[Jewish Colonization Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavozylaopinion.com.ar/cgi-bin/medios/vernota.cgi?medio=lavoz&numero=Mayo2012&nota=Mayo2012-3 |title=La vida de una pianista única: "Martha Argerich" por Moshé Korin |publisher=Lavozylaopinion.com.ar |date= |accessdate=2013-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://owl-ge.ch/arts-scenes/spip.php?article1941 |title=Portrait : Martha Argerich - Arts-Scènes |publisher=Owl-ge.ch |date= |accessdate=2013-10-21}}</ref> The provenance of the name [[Argerich]] is Catalonia, Spain. She started playing the piano at age three. At the age of five, she moved to teacher [[Vincenzo Scaramuzza]], who stressed to her the importance of lyricism and feeling. Argerich gave her debut concert in 1949 at the age of eight. The family moved to Europe in 1955, where Argerich studied with [[Friedrich Gulda]] in Austria. [[Juan Perón]], then the president of Argentina, made their decision possible by appointing her parents to [[Foreign relations of Argentina|diplomatic]] posts in the Argentine Embassy in [[Vienna]]. She later studied with [[Stefan Askenase]] and [[Maria Curcio]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Niel Immelman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/14/obituary-maria-curcio |title=The Guardian, 14 April 2009 |publisher=Guardian |date= 14 April 2009|accessdate=2012-01-04 |location=London}}</ref> Argerich also seized opportunities for brief periods of coaching with Madeleine Lipatti (widow of [[Dinu Lipatti]]), [[Abbey Simon]], and [[Nikita Magaloff]].<ref>Manildi, Donald [http://www.musicalamerica.com/features/?fid=66&fyear=2001 Musician of the Year 2001 Martha Argerich], "Musical America", 2001</ref> In 1957, at sixteen, she won both the [[Geneva International Music Competition]] and the [[Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition|Ferruccio Busoni International Competition]] within three weeks of each other. It was at the latter that she met [[Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli]], whom she would later seek out for lessons during a personal artistic crisis at the age of twenty, though she only had four lessons with him in a year and a half.<ref name="Dean Interview">Elder, Dean. [http://www.andrys.com/arg-1979.html Excerpts from a Rare Interview with Argerich]. accessed 19 January 2010.</ref><ref name="Sweeting">{{cite news | url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9370c7e4-a31f-11e0-a9a4-00144feabdc0.html | title=Strains of mood music | work=Financial Times | author=Andrew Clark | date=2011-07-08 | accessdate=2015-07-24}}</ref> Her greatest influence was Gulda, with whom she studied for 18 months. ==Professional career== Argerich gave her debut concert at the age of 8, playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor and Beethoven's First Piano Concerto in C major.<ref>http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Argerich-Martha.htm</ref> Argerich rose to international prominence when she won the seventh [[International Chopin Piano Competition]] in [[Warsaw]] in 1965, at age 24. In that same year, she debuted in the United States in [[Lincoln Center]]'s Great Performers Series. In 1960, she had made her first commercial recording, which included works by [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]], [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], [[Maurice Ravel|Ravel]], [[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev]], and [[Franz Liszt|Liszt]]; it received critical acclaim upon its release in 1961. In 1967, she recorded Chopin's [[Polonaise Op. 53 (Chopin)|Polonaise, Op. 53]]. <gallery> File:Martha Argerich concierto.jpg|Martha Argerich concierto </gallery> Argerich has often remarked in interviews of feeling "lonely" on stage during solo performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sPD1cma58w |title=YouTube |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2013-10-21}}</ref> Since the 1980s, she has staged few solo performances, concentrating instead on [[piano concerto|concertos]] and, in particular, [[chamber music]], and collaborating with instrumentalists in [[sonata (music)|sonatas]]. She is noted especially for her recordings of [[20th century classical music|20th-century]] works by composers such as [[Sergei Rachmaninoff|Rachmaninoff]], [[Olivier Messiaen|Messiaen]] and [[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev]]. One notable compilation pairs Rachmaninoff's [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Concerto No. 3]] (recorded in December 1982 with the [[Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin|Radio Symphonie-Orchester Berlin]] under the direction of [[Riccardo Chailly]]) with [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] (February 1980, [[Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra|Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks]], [[Kirill Kondrashin]]). [[File:Martha argerich cck jul15.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Argerich during a concert given in the [[Néstor Kirchner Cultural Centre]], July 2015.]] Argerich is also famous for her interpretation of Prokofiev's [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev)|Piano Concerto No. 3]], Ravel's [[Piano Concerto (Ravel)|Piano Concerto in G]], and Bach's Partita No. 2 in C minor, which she has recorded several times and continues to perform. Argerich has also promoted younger pianists, both through her annual festival and through her appearances as a member of the jury at international competitions.<ref name="About ICC">{{cite web|title=About|url=http://konkurs.chopin.pl/en/about/competition|publisher=Chopin International Competition|accessdate=17 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="ASU Jury">{{cite web|title=Jury|url=http://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/pianocompetition/2013/jury.php|publisher=ASU Competition|accessdate=17 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="AR Competition">{{cite web|title=Ninth Competition|url=http://www.arims.org.il/ninth.php|publisher=Arthur Rubinstein Competition|accessdate=17 January 2014}}</ref> The pianist [[Ivo Pogorelić]] was thrust into the musical spotlight partly as a result of Argerich's actions: after he was eliminated in the third round of the 1980 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Argerich proclaimed him a "genius" and left the jury in protest.<ref>Stevenson, Joseph.[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=q46402/biography|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Biography of Ivo Pogorelich] accessed 18 January 2010</ref> She has supported several artists including [[Gabriela Montero]], [[Mauricio Vallina]], [[Sergio Tiempo]], [[Gabriele Baldocci]], Christopher Falzone<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxlJqI5idRkrS72BfVTK8A |title=Classicalrecitals |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-11-03 |accessdate=2015-09-04}}</ref> and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsi.ch/argerich/welcome.cfm?lng=1&ids=491&idc=989 |title=Progetto Martha Argerich |language=it|publisher=Rsi.ch |date= |accessdate=2012-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsi.ch/argerich/welcome.cfm?lng=1&ids=491&idc=1000 |title=Progetto Martha Argerich |language=it|publisher=Rsi.ch |date= |accessdate=2012-01-04}}</ref> Argerich is president of the [[International Piano Academy Lake Como]] and performs each year at the [[Lugano Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www4.rsi.ch/trasm/argerich/welcome.cfm |title=Progetto Martha Argerich |language=it|publisher=.rsi.ch |date= |accessdate=2015-09-04}}</ref> She also created and has been General Director of the Argerich Music Festival and Encounter in [[Beppu]], [[Japan]], since 1996. Her aversion to the press and publicity has resulted in her remaining out of the limelight for most of her career. Nevertheless, she is widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of her time.<ref name="Alex Ross New Yorker profile">{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Alex |title=Madame X|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2001/11/12/011112crmu_music |accessdate=15 January 2014 |newspaper=The New Yorker |date=12 November 2001 |authorlink=Alex Ross}}</ref><ref name="2005 Tommasini review">{{cite news |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony |title=Classical Music: Recordings; Boisterous Beethoven, Brooding Brahms |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E7D7123CF933A15750C0A9639C8B63&ref=marthaargerich |accessdate=15 January 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=20 March 2005 |authorlink=Anthony Tommasini}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Carrizo |first=Rodrigo |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/directdemocracy/48th-solothurn-film-festival_examining-a-martha-daughter-relationship/34795316 |title=Examining a Martha-daughter relationship - SWI |publisher=Swissinfo.ch |date=2013-01-24 |accessdate=2015-09-04}}</ref><ref>In a 2001 article about Martha Argerich for ''[[The New Yorker]]'', critic [[Alex Ross (music critic)|Alex Ross]] wrote: "Argerich brings to bear qualities that are seldom contained in one person: she is a pianist of brain-teasing technical agility; she is a charismatic woman with an enigmatic reputation; she is an unaffected interpreter whose native language is music. This last may be the quality that sets her apart. A lot of pianists play huge double octaves; a lot of pianists photograph well. But few have the unerring naturalness of phrasing that allows them to embody the music rather than interpret it."</ref> Her performance of [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Liszt)|Liszt's First Piano Concerto]] conducted by [[Daniel Barenboim]] at [[The Proms]] 2016 prompted this review in ''[[The Guardian]]'': "It was an unforgettable performance. Argerich celebrated her 75th birthday in June this year, but that news doesn’t seem to have reached her fingers. Her playing is still as dazzling, as frighteningly precise, as it has always been; her ability to spin gossamer threads of melody as matchless as ever. This was unmistakably and unashamedly Liszt in the grand manner, a bit old-fashioned and sometimes even a bit vulgar at times, but in this of all concertos, with Barenboim and the orchestra following each twist and turn, every little quickening and moment of expressive reflection, it seemed entirely appropriate."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/18/west-eastern-divan-orchestra-barenboim-argerich-review-prom-43-royal-albert-hall |title=West-Eastern Divan Orchestra/Barenboim/Argerich review – extraordinary in every respect|publisher=The Guardian|date=2016-08-18 |accessdate=2016-11-15}}</ref> ==Personal life== Argerich has been married three times. Her first marriage, to [[composer]]-[[Conducting|conductor]] Robert Chen ({{zh|c=陈亮声 |s=|t=|p=Chén Liàngshēng}}),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.163.com/09/1226/07/5RENQBH5000120GR.html|publisher=News.163.com|title=二十八国华人演奏家"百鸟还巢"|accessdate=2012-12-11}}</ref> and with whom she had a daughter, violist Lyda Chen-Argerich,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lyda Chen-Argerich, violinist |url=http://www.sensmanagement.com/lyda-chen-argerich_6.html |publisher=Sens Management| accessdate=July 2, 2014}}</ref> ended in 1964.<ref name=People1980/> From 1969 to 1973, Argerich was married to Swiss conductor [[Charles Dutoit]], with whom she had a daughter, Annie Dutoit. Argerich continues to record and perform with Dutoit. In the 1970s she was also briefly married to pianist [[Stephen Kovacevich]],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editorial/martha-argerich-speaks-to-stephen-kovacevich-gramophone-november-2008-with-jeremy-nicholas |title=Martha Argerich Speaks to Stephen Kovacevich|website=Gramophone.co.uk | date=November 2008 | accessdate=2015-10-27}}</ref> with whom she has a daughter, Stéphanie.<ref name=People1980>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20076190,00.html |title=A Top Woman Pianist, Martha Argerich, Nearly Gave Up Her Steinway for Steno |last1=Hauptfuhrer |first1=Fred |last2=Vespa |first2=Mary |date=1980-04-07 |publisher=people.com |accessdate=2014-07-02}}</ref> In 1990, Argerich was diagnosed with [[malignant melanoma]]. After treatment, the cancer went into remission, but there was a recurrence in 1995, eventually [[metastasis|metastasizing]] to her lungs and lymph nodes. Following an experimental treatment at the John Wayne cancer institute in Santa Monica pioneered by oncologist [[Donald Morton]], Argerich's cancer went into remission again. In gratitude, Argerich performed a [[Carnegie Hall]] recital benefiting the Institute.<ref>Toronto Globe and Mail, concert review, March 28, 2000</ref> {{As of|2017}}, Argerich remains cancer-free.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/martha-argerich-is-a-legend-of-the-classical-music-world-but-she-doesnt-act-like-one/2016/12/01/117095b4-b104-11e6-be1c-8cec35b1ad25_story.html|title=Martha Argerich is a legend of the classical music world. But she doesn’t act like one.|last=Midgette|first=Anne|date=2016-12-01|last2=Midgette|first2=Anne|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=2017-01-23}}</ref> [http://www.gachot.ch/gachot_argerich.html ''Martha Argerich, evening talks''], is the award-winning documentary film released in 2002 about Argerich by [http://www.gachot.ch/ ''Georges Gachot''] - ([http://imdb.com/title/tt0384318/ imdb link]) Stéphanie Argerich Blagojevic directed a documentary film about her mother, ''Bloody Daughter'', based on film shot since her childhood.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/30/argerich-film-review-classical-pianist-music-documentary | title=Argerich review – a daughter’s honest portrait of her classical-pianist mother | work=The Guardian | author=Leslie Felperin | date=2015-04-30 | accessdate=2015-07-24}}</ref> ==Awards== * [[Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition]]: 1st prize (1957)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concorsobusoni.it/en-94-1984.aspx |title=Storia del Concorso - Fondazione Concorso Pianistico Internazionale Ferruccio Busoni |publisher=Concorsobusoni.it |date= |accessdate=2013-10-21 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114090627/http://www.concorsobusoni.it/en-94-1984.aspx |archivedate=2009-11-14 |df= }}</ref> * [[Geneva International Music Competition]]: 1st prize (1957) * [[International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition]]: 1st prize (1965) * [[Arrau Medal|Claudio Arrau Memorial Medal]] (1997) * Diamond [[Konex Award]] 1999 as the most important Classical Musician of the decade in Argentina. *[[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)]] **[[Charles Dutoit]] (conductor), Martha Argerich and the [[Montreal Symphony Orchestra]] for ''[[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev]]: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3/[[Béla Bartók|Bartók]]: Piano Concerto No. 3'' ([[42nd Grammy Awards|2000]]) * [[Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance]]: **Martha Argerich and [[Mikhail Pletnev]] for ''[[Sergei Prokofiev|Prokofiev]] (Arr. Pletnev): Cinderella Suite for Two Pianos/[[Maurice Ravel|Ravel]]: Ma Mere L'Oye'' ([[47th Grammy Awards|2005]]) * [[Order of the Rising Sun#4th Class, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette|The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette]] 2005 Japan * [[Praemium Imperiale]] 2005 Japan * [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)]]: **[[Claudio Abbado]] (conductor), Martha Argerich and the [[Mahler Chamber Orchestra]] for ''Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3'' ([[48th Grammy Awards|2006]]) * Voted into [[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'s Hall of Fame in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gramophone Hall of Fame : Artists Page|url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/HallofFame/ArtistPage/Argerich|publisher=Gramophone.co.uk|accessdate=11 April 2012}}</ref> * Recipient of [[The Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/pages/specialevents/honors |title=The Kennedy Center Honors |website=Kennedy-center.org |date= |accessdate=2016-08-09}}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Piano}} *[[Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Martha Argerich]] *[[Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Martha Argerich II]] *[[List of Argentines]] ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== *{{Commons category inline}} *[http://www.andrys.com/argerich.html "Argerich--Discography," (August 11, 1999)] *[http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2001/11/12/011112crmu_music Ross, Alex; 'Madame X', November 12, 2001], a profile of Argerich in ''[[The New Yorker]]'' *[http://www.gachot.ch/gachot_argerich.html ''Martha Argerich, evening talks''], the award-winning documentary film about Argerich by [http://www.gachot.ch/l ''Georges Gachot''] - ([http://imdb.com/title/tt0384318/ imdb link]) *[http://www.andrys.com/argerich/ar-orga.html Orga, Ates, ''River Plate Queen'' (1978, 2006)], an interview with Argerich first published in the 1979 ''International Music Guide'' *[http://www.argerich-mf.jp/english.html MUSIC FESTIVAL Argerich's Meeting Point in Beppu], a music festival sponsored by the Argerich Arts Foundation of [[Beppu, Ōita|Beppu, Japan]] *[http://www.rtsi.ch/trasm/argerich/welcome.cfm?lng=1 The Martha Argerich Project] *[http://andrys.com/argerich/ Argerich Music news, concert schedule, articles, recordings] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100408052855/http://home.swipnet.se/bjorn_ostlund/argerich_repertoire.htm Argerich's repertoire through the years] *[http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/cosmo14/argerich.htm Martha Argerich biography, CD and concert review by cosmopolis.ch] *[http://www.euronews.net/2009/06/15/martha-argerich-project-brings-talent-to-lugano/ Martha Argerich Project Brings Talent to Lugano] by ''Euro News'', June 15, 2009 {{Kennedy Center Honorees 2010s}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Argerich, Martha}} [[Category:1941 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Argentine classical pianists]] [[Category:Argentine people of Catalan descent]] [[Category:Argentine people of Russian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:Jewish Argentine musicians]] [[Category:Jewish classical pianists]] [[Category:Women classical pianists]] [[Category:Chilean classical pianists]] [[Category:20th-century classical pianists]] [[Category:EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists]] [[Category:Deutsche Grammophon artists]] [[Category:International Chopin Piano Competition winners]] [[Category:Illustrious Citizens of Buenos Aires]] [[Category:Musicians from Buenos Aires]] [[Category:Grammy Award winners]] [[Category:Prize-winners of the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition]] [[Category:Pupils of Maria Curcio]] [[Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class]] [[Category:Winners of the Geneva International Music Competition]]'