Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in Cm, Op.37 (Argerich)

Argerich never produces recordings that are anything less than excellent, but even by her atmospheric standards this recording is unbelievably good. The playing is mercurial and fiery – but there’s also a real sense of integrity to it, and in the middle movement the pianism reaches a trancelike level of concentration. It’s a very Argerich thing, actually, to play in a manner that sounds completely spontaneous while also having every musical decision also make total sense – consider how carefully she varies her trills, for instance: 5:41 (quiet, even), 8:30 (percussive), 14:27 (from forceful to wafer-thin pianissimo), and 26:59 (mechanical, rigid, even a bit frightening).

In the first movement, you’ve got the granite-hewn hardness of the piano’s entry put in violent contrast against the expressiveness of the rising chords at 3:28. And immediately after, the melodic lines at 3:37 and 4:17 are presented improvisationally, with dozens of dynamic dips/rises and microscopic changes in tempo. Even a simple thing like the falling arpeggio at 4:07 is given a steely brilliance that lifts it a notch above what you usually hear.

The second movement is taken at a really slow tempo, but this works wonders – the ending of the movement seems to stretch to musical infinity, and 20:09 becomes into a moving meditation between piano and winds. And I’ve not heard a better handling of the LH tremolo at 17:17, which here dissolves into a translucent haze of sound.

The last movement is taut and combative, filled with jabbing accent, and some surprisingly coy moments (e.g., 28:14, where Argerich plays the alternating high and low phrases very differently: the first rhythmically tight and detached, the second drowsily legato and noticeably slower, with a hair’s-breadth pause between the two). My favourite modulation in all the Beethoven concertos is also handled brilliantly here: the piano cuts off the orchestra mid-sentence at 31:17 by coming in very loud, and with these arrogant agogic accents. And needless to say, the coda is taken at a blistering, reckless speed: 34:24.

[kieraasahi]

The cadenza of the 1st mov is one of the best cadenzas ever 😭

[aidanstrong]

I love the moment at 27:18 - beethoven straight up saying ABSOLUTELY NOT to the major

[AshishXiangyiKumar]

00:00 – I. Allegro con brio
16:10 – II. Largo
26:29 – III. Rondo, allegro

[late]

I think this is one of Beethoven's most well-rounded compositions. It's approaching Mozart-like perfection in the sense that all phrases feel like they're natural laws that Beethoven just wrote down.

[cardinals]

this performance by Argerich is riveting, she displays Beethoven with a passion, this is how beethoven is meant to be played

[sonian]

Omg Martha Argerich is in my opinion one of the best pianists! Her expressions are so colourful she surprises me every time 🥰

[philippemineau]

Man...I can't get tired of that first movement. It is as close to perfection as it can get.

[brianho]

It is interesting to note that this is one of the first compositions (if not the first) that breaks the upper range of F6 on the piano. Previously there had been many cases where Beethoven had to make some concessions.
In the first concerto Op.15, one would have to apply a 'cheat' in the exposition to get to the F#6. It was F6 as written, but the parallel passage clearly intended it to be a major third. Beethoven later wrote a cadenza that took advantage of extended keys not available when he first wrote the Op. 15 Concerto.
It's an interesting debate between those who would play Beethoven exactly as written versus those who stand by the 'uncurtailed form' (what Beethoven would have written, had he not been constrained by the tessitura). There isn't much debate from the Third Piano Concerto onwards though, the Concerto as written was already playable with the upgraded piano at that time.
The importance of Beethoven's music in helping to develop the modern piano we see today cannot be understated.

[zee]

15:29 ‘till the end of the first mvt is just perfect

[shin-i-chikozima]

Beethoven‘s music will quench and moisturize your parched soul

[fazliddinerkaboyev]

The 1st movement starts revolution in my heart.

[officaldungeons]

Bruh those trills are so perfectly executed

[Luca-ygqx]

The cadenza starting at 12:07 is one of my favourites of any concerto ever (probably my favourite along with Prokofiev 2 and Rach 3). 13:57 onwards is so powerful.

[seanmcconnell]

For a minor piece, I find it surprisingly light and pleasant. It's such a stunning work of music!

[romeobortolani]

You are the most essential resource for a classical pianist.

[MozartFong]

Thank you for posting a performance by the living Goddess.

[lawrencetaylor]

Thank you, your videos not only present great performances but also insightful analyses.

[maumusa]

Nobody can even be close to Argerich's level. Simply magnificent !!

[pierreguinot]

Beethoven ou la conquête de la liberté. Ça fait du bien, là. Je ne l'avais pas écouté depuis longtemps. Pour moi un des plus beaux concertos qui soit. Interprétation magnifique.

[kaciewilcox]

I love this piano concerto so much!! I'm learning it right now...but that cadenza is scaring me a lot 😳