Martha Argerich Plays Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 | Singapore International Piano Festival 2018 

She’s 77 here. That’s seventy-seven, and a 25-year cancer survivor (seriously BAD BAD metastatic cancer!), yet she can play this brutally difficult concerto as good or better than anyone on the planet. She is in a class by herself, and at 80, still going strong. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

I think Martha Argerich is the earth mother of all pianists. Her playing is purely organic. Nothing artificial, no theatrics, just the pure essence of the music.

I just shake my head in disbelief thinking how amazing and talented beyond recognition she is as a genius pianist. 😅.

In an interview, Martha once said that Prokofiev is her best friend. Now I can see what she meant.

I am a 92 year old music lover and follower. Argherich is by far the greatest pianist of my lifetime. The hours of pure enjoyment that I owe to her will never be repaid. But I am glad I owe her

My jaw dropped seeing the speed of her fingers on the piano. This is so lovely! Her fingers dont play like 80 years. She certainly didn't limit herself or retire because of her age. Such blessings.

Prokofiev would cry. Totally brings his music to life. Sounds like it should-spontaneous. Absolutely beautiful. Makes me weep. It's like she wrote it.

What blows my mind most about this performance is the way she flies through the final passage and, rather cavalierly, stands up immediately to shake the conductor’s hand….as if she didn’t just perform one of the most difficult concertos ever written 😅

Amazing. I put away my guitar at 65…. I’m now 80 like Martha…. The dexterity Lost to arthritis, I’m just glad my ears are holding out so I can enjoy my peers who are still able to make music

Martha Argerich is a living legend. She said this concerto was "easy" to her... Total respect !!!

Martha's getting older - as we all do - but her power never seems to fade! Amazing!

4:30 always makes me grin. She makes it look as easy as tapping a beat on the table. God bless her.

It seems that Prokofiev wrote his piano concertos especially for her.

One of the best piano concertos in the history of music, and one of the best performances of that piece aswell. Sorry for my stupid joke, but imagine how quickly she knits socks for her grand children!

I still remember the surreal sight of her coming into the stage - finally in Singapore! - and how the audience refused to stop clapping, so thrilled we were!

I'm speechless. It seems Martha Argerich was born to elevate Prokofiev to the highest level of interpretation. They are a perfect match, although living in another century. just divine.

The fact that she can play for hours at a time, now over 80 years old is impressive in itself. let alone the fact that she is doing it entirely from memory without making a mistake. She is beyond words impressive.

The world woke up to the phenomenal talent of the Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich in 1964 when she won the International Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 24. She is now arguably the greatest living pianist and can sell out concerts in minutes. Her trademark mass of lustrous black hair may be grey, but Martha Argerich still looks almost girlish when she steps onto the concert platform. Diminutive, with surprisingly small hands, it comes as a shock when she unleashes her full horse-power and those famous fingers dance over the keyboard.Aug 20, 2019. Everyone - you are listening to and looking at the greatest pianist in the world today. And, she is ranked behind Debussy as one of the greatest of all time, I believe 5th overall. She is 1st in my humble opinion. It is totally amazing to me how she plays this Prokofiev. Pianissimo, Fortissimo, fingering, all amazing. I believe she could do it without looking at the keys. A genius and God has given her to us to hear her play.

I usually listen to one of Yuga Wang’s performances of this concerto. Her interpretation tends to bring out more of Prokofiev’s impish humor. But Martha Agerich brings out the beauty and fluidity and reminds me that, without her, there might not be a Yuja Wang.

How many others came here after watching Rick Beato's recent video on Martha Argerich? I had never heard of her until today, but I wish I had heard of her long ago. She is indeed amazing!

Just remember she's almost 80.

I think this is the best recording of Prokofiev's 3rd piano concerto, I am very impressed

I watched this performance live, and there were really no words to describe it. It was so good that almost the whole audience gave a standing ovation and wouldn't stop clapping! Great recording, but it's nothing like watching her live. Her musical dynamics and contrasts are truly astounding.

I was there seated at the second row from the stage, totally mesmerized by Martha"s stunning performance. To watch her live was a dream come true.

That is a nearly 80 year old woman crushing a really tough concerto. Amazing.

This performance of Prokofiev 3 by Martha Argerich is such a powerful testament to her humility as an artist. It is never about her; it is always about the music. Absolutely love her. ❤

Martha is a mind boggling Pianist, one of the greatest of the 20th/21st century? The greatest living one?? This recording gives nothing but goosebumps.

Almost 80, and after 25 minutes, by the end of the concert... one can hardly see her hands, they should have recorded this at double speed. Sometimes not even looking the keys, giving entrance to the same director. No reading notes, all by memory. It is absolutely not normal, beyond world class.

I'll never tire of watching this. Absolutely thrilling, and the climax at the end is wonderful. I love the way Argerich stands up at the end in a matter of fact way - as if she's just finished hoovering the front lounge.

How wonderful that she can play at the highest level. This is a message that music can transcend the physical plane and bring hope and joy to all.

MARTA ARGERICH IS A GREAT PIANIST, AND SHE IS ALSO FROM ARGENTINA, MY COUNTRY. THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING CONCERT !!!

1:21 The bassoonist applauding the clarinetist for nailing the opening solo. I LIVED Such an amazing concerto and a superb presentation by the orchestra

How fortunate are we! She’s still alive in 2021, still giving concerts. ❤️

Everything is exceptional : Martha, the Singapore orchestra, the chief, the concert hall, the audience, the video recording. Thank you Singapore. I love your country also for that.

How many pianists, including Horowitz and Rubenstein, would tackle the Prokoviev 3 at 79? None! They didn't! She is amazing and just doesn't quit. Such a brilliant rendering. Thank you for posting and sharing this video.

7:01 That build-up is so incredible. One of the best moments of any piano concerto imo

As close to pure magic as you'll ever see.

Astounding!.No sheet music. She knows when to play it soft, loud, moderate, she knows when to crescendo. She is a true maestro in every since of the word.😳

This is my favorite musical performance of all time. Martha's hands have a life of their own. I felt like I was watching the creation of the World.

How in the world does she remember all of this? She is incredible.

Prokofiev was ahead of his time. His music is unlike any composer's. People often forgot how good he is and kept on focusing on the pianists. Without Prokofiev and all the great composers, all these pianists wont have anything to perform. Thank you Prokofiev for your amazing music. RIP....

07:02 This progression is simply mind-blowing. Martha Argerich plays this with an ease and musicality which is simply unparalleled.

What I particularly love about her playing is that she has such a large dynamic range, so much feeling and so nuanced and she's playing all of this from memory so flawlessly.

she's NOT only one of the GREATEST pianist of all time... she's one heck of a gracious lady!!!! HATS off to Argerich... !

How can such a piece even exist? Prokofiev the great maestro has given a true gift back to the universe.

Wow! Another bravura performance of a war horse concerto by the peerless Martha Argerich! Her playing is absolutely effortless at nearly 80! Astounding genius!

Every time I see this video (I've lost count) it's like I see and hear it for the first time. Argerich is impeccable and thrilling.

THE QUEEN!

And I love any woman who appears with gray hair. That's enough for me.

Let’s pause for a moment to salute Max Lima for making all of this Martha treasure available for us to enjoy. I , for one, can’t thank him enough. Hearing Argerich play feels like winning the lottery every time!

It is astounding, that a woman of her age can play in this marathonesk strength-draining masterpiece of Prokoviev and in the end, she just bow and gestured ‘ ahhhh never mind, I just played a bit, it was nothing special’ and by the way burned the hands of the conductor instantly.

Mind-blowing - She is a living miracle.

i love how she's just tapping her leg during these passages like she's just doing a 30 minute warm up

I want a world more like this, please.

Every single rendition is different, yet it's alway Argerich's energy: indomitable.

heck, yeah clap after that first movement! That was straight 🔥 Also, seeing Martha mercilessly tear this piece apart at age 80 is one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen.

She was almost 80 here, and still she was playing like a 20-year old! ;-) ^^

She's super human...like for real. I wish she'd perform Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 again.

Always mesmerised by Martha's playing. Those fingers radiate confidence and extraordinary clarity all at the same time. She's a tonic...

Magnificent! Pure Sincerity, Divine Performance.. a moment on the planet Earth when one is speechless 🙏💖 Bravo 💐

My favorite pianist on the planet!!! She always says that Prokofiev is her favorite composer to perform!!!

She is clearly loved ❤ never have I seen a world class performer who is so normal, down to earth and has such a natural aire 🎉Unlike a lot of other classical pianists.

A tour de force on the keys. Martha is magnificent!

The killer octaves at 18:01...oh my.. Only she can produce that sound and speed in the most EFFORTLESS manner. She can still literally compete with younger pianists nowadays.

Великолепная пианистка. Впервые слышу такой звук у рояля. Ей очень идёт играть современную классическую музыку, звук настолько яркий, живой, что получается непередаваемая красота с очень сильными ощущениями и восхищением. И сам композитор Прокофьев - великолепен, современен! Всё-таки русская музыка прекрасна!

My favorite piano concerto! AND my favorite pianist! Thank you so much! I'm 74 and was raised in environment of music my whole life. My mother was an honors graduate from Northwestern University on piano and choral conducting. She tells of one piano jury after which the three professors actually applauded. Unheard of then (late 30's) and still rarely now. The three of us children took lessons (not from our mother, she was too intelligent for that). My final achievement was playing the 1st movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto when I was a high-school junior. After which I focused on the clarinet. My band director said we would perform the Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue if I could learn the clarinet "smear" as it was called then in 1965 (now the "gliss" or glissando). My clarinet teacher/band director. He thought I spent hours on it, but it took about 15 min. to get it roughed. The rest of the time was to build consistency. I taught my son how to do it when he was in 7th grade much to our regret and the band director's.

If ever a pianist owned a Concerto it’s this one. No one comes close to her in the performance of this work.

Legend has it that they are still clapping.

7:56 The interplay with the flutes is simply brilliant. The way the sound imperceptibly jumps from one instrument to the other and back again is flawless. This is how Prokofiev must have imagined it.

No one handles a piano like Margaret Argerich! My mind is infatuated by her hands stroking and almost pounding the keys with the most beautiful results!! Her quickness is faster than my mind can process. She is my most beloved pianist ever. And she shall always be. I am awed by her abilities.

Her technique... second to none

at 7:02 - no change in her tempo from as far back as I can find. Astonishing... Amazing. IMO the greatest modern pianist.

What is amazing is the person that composes these pieces, and of course, it's another thing to find some great pianist to play it. She is truly a master of this instrument. She is one of a kind in this century.

She was 78 when she played this. But her hands were 25. Absolutely the most amazing pianist!

A freaking legend. Can't even word my ecstatic happiness while i watch this video

She plays with such elegance

What a tremendous performance. Martha is the best pianoplayer ever.

Martha Argerich is a living legend!! My compliment wouldn’t do justice!!

Ce qui m'étonne, c'est qu'elle ne montre aucune trace d'anxiété lors de ses performances. Son répertoire, sa technique et son toucher doux font d'elle l'une des meilleures pianistes de l'histoire.

Beginner: pieces in c major are so easy! Prokofiev: *NO*

What a sense of rythm had Prokofiev!!!

The power, the details, the easiness, the mastery - all unmatched in this concerto as if written especially for her.

The finger work at 9:44 is incredible.

Thank you singapore Symphony for sharing this wonderful event. Superb audio recording of a real fine orchestra featuring the last piano diva living. Thanks to Martha for such masterly interpretation. maximum respect. viva musica

Martha to orchestra at 1:44: "Vamos!"; Martha at 1:53: "I SAID - 'vamos'"; Flautist at 2:05: "I'm trying, I'm trying!"

Martha joue avec une aisance déconcertante, elle survole le clavier, l 'age n'a pas d'emprise sur elle, c'est l'une des meilleures pianistes, un toucher, une maîtrise technique une puissance de jeu...quel plaisir de la voir jouer et interpréter des pièces aussi difficiles

20:01 the way she plays that last chord..just that alone and releasing the keys says so mcuh right there..

I've loved her since I was four years old. Do you notice that at times it appears her fingers don't even touch the keys? It's quite extraordinary. And to play this as Martha does, you have to be a world-class athlete to have that much stamina, strength, and especially control of her entire body, again, like an athlete.

Prokofiev must have been the inspiration for John William's music for Star Wars. Martha Argerich is always incredible!

This is what I love about Argerich, even at her age right now, she's still got it, the power and essence of the pieces she plays. Definitely worth watching for.

A dame of the 80 years old!!!!!! Awesome!!!!!!

this is my favorite modern piano concerto Prokofiev was incredible.......the Mozarts are my other fav........Prokofiev is a master at layering complex woodwind chords that sound phenomenal

A friend sent me this video and I was instantly sucked in. I couldn't stop watching until the end. No score in front of her either. Amazing pianist is an understatement. I don't own a piano, but this lady makes me want one.

Growing up, Martha was young with vigor and vitality. Now, she is older and gray like me. She will leave a good legacy one day as with all the great artists.

Ms. Argerich, I have admired you all my life. I will never forget your performance in Switzerland - Schumann piano sonatas with Gideon Kramer. Early 80s. I was so lucky to be in the audience at the time - and even luckier to meet you back stage! Will never forget, even though it was many decades ago! I'm sure you hear this every day many times, but I gotta tell you one more time: You will go down in history as one of the most formidible pianists of the 20th/21st century. Thank- you from the bottom of my heart for the many, many hours of wonderful enjoyment, and for all you do for our art. DeAnna Howe

i was lucky to be in this concert watching Martha Argerich live in singapore. awesome performance!

It is quite perturbing that she plays this massive difficult piece at 77 as when she was 30......

No-one else has her fluidity ... WOW !!!

au delà de la science, c'est vertigineux! merci pour ce moment de grâce.

She, deserved to be totally respected! I totally do love her, her talent !