Argerich, Martha (1941—)

Argentine pianist. Born on June 5, 1941, in Buenos Aires, Argentina; studied with Vincenzo Scaramuzza, Friedrich Gulda, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Nikita Magaloff, and Madeleine Lipatti.

Winner of the Busoni International Competition in Bolzano in 1957 and the prestigious Chopin International Competition in Warsaw in 1965.

After early studies with Vincenzo Scaramuzza, Martha Argerich made her debut in Buenos Aires in 1949. Her later training in Europe included working with Friedrich Gulda, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Nikita Magaloff, and Madeleine Lipatti . Argerich achieved world rank by winning the 1957 Busoni International Competition in Bolzano and the prestigious Chopin International Competition in Warsaw in 1965. She was considered by many to be one of the most passionate pianists of the late 20th century. Her restless nature and uninhibited musicality invariably excited audiences while occasionally irritating critics. Her recording of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit is considered by some critics to be close to the definitive reading of this difficult work. Argerich became famous as a master performer of such disparate composers as Brahms, Schumann, and Prokofiev. She showed great talent in projecting, and at the same time skillfully blending, her powerful personality in the ensemble nature of chambermusic performances. Putting her family first, Argerich has become something of a cult figure, jealously guarding her private life, seeming diffident toward performance and marquee success.

John Haag , Associate Professor of History, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia