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Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor, Op 11 (1830) [37:58]
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Piano Concerto No 1 in E-flat major (1830-1855) [17:36]
Martha Argerich (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
rec. February 1968, London
Presto CD
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 415 061-2 [55:35]

Presto Classical continues its facsimile reissue programme with a disc that has, what I regard as, one of the seminal recordings of Chopin’s life-affirming First Piano Concerto; actually his second. This disc was highly acclaimed upon its first release over fifty years ago and has hardly been out of the catalogue in some shape or form ever since. It was reviewed by Oleg Ledeniov in 2010 when both concertos here were released in a DG set of Martha Argerich’s “The Concerto Recordings”. I have had it as a single disc and as part of Argerich’s complete DG recordings. Most recently I have it in a magnificent bumper box (46 CDs) of Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra which contains many ground-breaking recordings.

Chopin’s piano concertos were once held to be poorly orchestrated, like the symphonies of his contemporary Schumann. As a consequence the infamous recording by Dinu Lipatti, (review by Christopher Howell) rules itself out of court as a library version because of a combination of cuts as well as inevitable sound issues associated with being more than seventy years old. No such problems here. The lengthy introduction floods out like a torrent before Argerich’s melodious tone emerges. It’s a fiery combination of two young performers presenting youthful romantic music - he was 20 at the time of its composition. The very evocative slow movement is almost a musical paraphrase of Keats but still has strength in the descant and never descends to syrup. Soloist, conductor and orchestra then present the Rondo: Vivace which is mesmerising. I can’t improve on Oleg’s description of a fiery lava flow. It seems extraordinary to play such demanding music with such apparent ease. I’ve always loved this recording since first hearing it and however you wish to obtain it, all lovers of romantic piano concertos and outstanding performances must get this disc. Martha Argerich has also recorded both Chopin concertos with Charles Dutoit (Warner) which I would not want to be without either. She continues to find and express the magic in with this work as is evident in a recent live performance available on YouTube from Warsaw, home of the composer.

The coupling is Liszt’s First Piano Concerto which is a work I find enigmatic. It appears to have all the right romantic nuances and obviously the pianism required to play it is considerable. Argerich and Abbado present this work again as a blazing collaboration and the sound, as in the Chopin, is very fine and doesn’t betray its age at all. I will continue to persevere with the Liszt, appreciating that this performance deserves to be rated with Brendel and Haitink as well as Richter and Kondrashin (both Philips) and in boxed sets in my collection.

This disc is self-recommending but it’s always a considerable privilege and pleasure to return to these young firebrands. If the combination suits and you’d like the original release then don’t hesitate.
 
David R Dunsmore