Martha Argerich and Itzhak Perlman. What a combination! Each of them has been recognized for more than 50 years as a supreme musician, but this is their first studio album together – though their live Saratoga recital of Beethoven and Franck, dating from 1998, is a jewel of the Warner Classics catalogue (CDC5568152).
Their program comprises Bach (Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 4 in C minor, BWV 1017, whose lilting opening movement became the sublime ‘Erbarme dich’ from St Matthew Passion), Brahms (Sonatensatz in C minor, Op. posth.) and Schumann (Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 and the Violin Sonata No 1 in A minor, Op 105).
“Working with Martha was a unique experience for me,” said Itzhak Perlman.”Her brilliance and the colors she uses when she plays are recognisable as soon as you hear them: it’s her – nobody else sounds like that… I am so excited that we were actually able to record together again.”
Martha Argerich is no less enthusiastic in her praise of her duo partner: “I feel so stimulated to play with Itzhak, it’s really a feast – fantastic! It’s a very special relationship, I am completely enchanted. it’s like having a conversation … You get inspired by what you hear at a particular moment. There is an interplay, a lot of things happen – it has spontaneity!”
Enjoy the new album, ‘Schumann, Bach, Brahms’ from Martha Argerich and Itzhak Perlman. International release date: 30th September 2016