Magic Moments of Music – Martha Argerich in Warsaw

Synopsis

Martha Argerich’s appearance at the 1965 Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw marks the beginning of an incomparable career. With her flowing hair and impetuous and mysterious demeanour, the 24-year-old Argentinian conquers the hearts of everyone present. For much of the competition, however, her victory is far from certain. Her closest competitor is Arthur Moreira Lima from Brazil. It comes down to the final performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto, and a legend is born. The film includes excerpts from the dramatic musical duel between Martha Argerich and Arthur Moreira Lima, and from Martha Argerich’s interpretation of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto in Warsaw forty-five years later. We also hear from close friends of Martha Argerich, including the conductor Daniel Barenboim, pianists Gabriela Montero and Sophie Pacini, violinist Gidon Kremer, her competitor Arthur Moreira Lima, the Polish star pianist Rafał Blechacz, who won first prize in the Chopin Competition in 2005, and other people present at the competition in 1965.

Additional Info

• No: 8732
• Artists: Daniel Barenboim, Rafał Blechacz, Gidon Kremer, Gabriela Montero, Sophie Pacini, Arthur Moreira Lima
• Production year: 2021
• Run time: 00:53:00
• Director: A film by Holger Preusse & Philipp Quiring
• Producers: ZDF/arte, sounding images
• Format: HDTV 16:9