The Enigmatic Martha Argerich: A Night to Remember
On a snowy evening in northern Switzerland, the renowned pianist Martha Argerich had just concluded an electrifying performance that left the audience in awe. Fans eagerly lined up backstage, hoping for autographs, while friends showered her with roses and chrysanthemums, celebrating her extraordinary talent. Yet, the 83-year-old artist, still celebrated as one of the world’s most remarkable pianists, was nowhere to be found. Instead, she had quietly slipped out through a side door to indulge in a Gauloises cigarette.
“I want to hide,” she admitted outside the Stadtcasino concert hall in Basel, her billowy gray hair framing her face. “For a moment, I don’t want to be a pianist. Now, I am someone else.” As she took a drag from her cigarette, Argerich reflected on the performance, particularly the opening flourish of Schumann’s piano concerto, which she had played with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana. Her verdict was candid: “not so good.”
Her thoughts then drifted back to a poignant memory of her youth, specifically the first time she had performed the concerto at the tender age of 11 in her hometown of Buenos Aires. It was at the Teatro Colón in 1952, where a conductor named Washington Castro had delivered a piece of advice that remained etched in her mind: “Never forget, strange things happen to pianists who play the Schumann concerto.”
Despite the passage of time, Argerich remains busier than ever. “They look old now,” she remarked, glancing at her hands, “but they still work.” Her resilience and passion for music continue to inspire countless fans and aspiring musicians around the world.
