Martha Argerich and Dong-Hyek Lim review – legendary pianist and mentee create musical magic
Why it matters: The performance highlighted the enduring brilliance of Martha Argerich, 70 years after her first major competition wins.
- Martha Argerich and Dong-Hyek Lim performed a concert that deviated from the advertised program, swapping Schubert’s Fantasia for Mozart and Ravel in the first half, only for the Schubert to reappear as a monumental encore.
- Argerich, at nearly 85, displayed a "gentle anarchy" and a nuanced approach, conjuring "50 shades of grey" in her playing, while Lim, at 41, favored "pianistic primary colours" and bright attack.
- The duo achieved "astonishing pianistic ventriloquism" in Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos, matching tone and gleam, and created a thrilling, near-catastrophic climax in Ravel’s La Valse as Argerich pushed the tempo and Lim scrambled to keep pace.
Legendary pianist Martha Argerich and her mentee Dong-Hyek Lim delivered a captivating performance marked by both spontaneous charm and breathtaking musicality, showcasing a dynamic interplay between Argerich's nuanced depth and Lim's vibrant attack. Despite an unconventional program that saw advertised pieces swapped and then reappear as encores, their collaboration created moments of astonishing pianistic ventriloquism and thrilling high-wire acts.
