Does Martha Argerich Play Like a Man?

[thalberg]

Here is an interview excerpt:

LMdlM: You told me Horowitz was surprised when he heard you were a woman after he heard you play on the radio
MA: I am always horrified when people say I play like a man.  Gidon Kremer had a very good answer when he was asked if he wasn’t afraid of playing with a female pianist with hands of a man.  He said: “No, because I have the heart of a female”.  That’s beautiful, isn’t it?  I make fun sometimes with Nelson Freire when we try to guess whether it’s a man or a woman playing when we hear a piano on the radio.  The female pianist I liked best was Annie Fischer.  I was also very impressed by Jacqueline du Pre and Maria Callas.

Does she play like man?  Discuss.

[ramseytheii]

No, but men strive to play like Martha Argerich.

Walter Ramsey

[pianistimo]

i don't think she's thinking gender when she plays.  she doesn't have to try to get sound out of the piano because she's solidly built and really plays in an effortless manner.  anyone, including a skinny 15 year old girl can play 'like a man' - meaning: 'get sound out of a piano' - if you know how to do it.

i can 'play like a man.'  i can also play fast and light.  but, the intention is not to 'play like a man.'  it's that if a passage calls for 'umph' - you've got it.  the most compliment a woman can get - imo - is that they have endurance.  if someone calls this 'playing like a man...' then 'oh well.'

now, there's the other side of purposely picking repertoire that's too hard for yourself.  this could be construed as attempting to 'play like a man' and being unable to.  you have to work yourself up to some kind of endurance and strength of mind.  to not be swayed by playing difficult pieces for the sake of showing off your ability to play them - but to be confident you can actually pull it off.

as i see it - one should know their current limitations and always be seeking to give an edge here and there.  breaking the boundaries.  but, why does a woman even need to prove to anyone (especially men) that she can play the entire piano repertoire?  if it comes easy - do it.  if it doesn't yet - don't play something you'll regret.  it'll just sound - flimsy.  i'd rather play something lighter until i can manage a concerto that is as strong at the end as the beginning.  i don't want to go on stage and impress people at the beginning and then make them want more at the end.

[term]

There's no such thing as "playing like a man".

[thalberg]

Well, Argerich seems to get that comment a lot from what she says.  My piano teacher used to think that Rudolf Serkin played like a woman.  I think the issue has to do with delicacy.  Serkin achieved great delicacy, whereas Argerich sounds ferocious, I think.  Even though she's often not pounding the heck out of the piano, you can tell she could if she wanted to.

[invictious]

No, but men strive to play like Martha Argerich.

Walter Ramsey

Agreed. I try to be as good as her...




posst, she's a man

[mikey6]

No, but men strive to play like Martha Argerich.

Walter Ramsey

certainly not all men would want to

[nasalstein]

it it said that horowitz told one of his pupils that he thought his(horowitz's) playing consisted of finest quality of both sex.
balance, i believe, is what one should always strive for.

[counterpoint]

I would describe Argerich's playing - besides the amazing virtuosity - as very sensitive (but unsentimental) on one side, and as very rude and aggressive on the other side. It's a bit like Svjatoslav Richter, but much more elegant and witty of course 

[mikey6]

it it said that horowitz told one of his pupils that he thought his(horowitz's) playing consisted of finest quality of both sex.
balance, i believe, is what one should always strive for.

well Horowitz apparently had an inkling towards both sexes so that cold be understood easily enough.

[richard black]

Does she play like man?

Yeah, from what I've heard the uses her fingers on the keys - men seem to play the piano like that.

 

[goldentone]

No, but men strive to play like Martha Argerich.

Walter Ramsey

Classic.

[goldentone]

In her Rach 3 recording, in the cadenza of the first movement, it's almost hard to believe that a woman is playing.  I don't know if I've ever heard a man or anyone play like that.  There she surely is "pounding the heck out of the piano."

[matterintospirit]

Here is an interview excerpt:

LMdlM: You told me Horowitz was surprised when he heard you were a woman after he heard you play on the radio
MA: I am always horrified when people say I play like a man.  Gidon Kremer had a very good answer when he was asked if he wasn’t afraid of playing with a female pianist with hands of a man.  He said: “No, because I have the heart of a female”.  That’s beautiful, isn’t it?  I make fun sometimes with Nelson Freire when we try to guess whether it’s a man or a woman playing when we hear a piano on the radio.  The female pianist I liked best was Annie Fischer.  I was also very impressed by Jacqueline du Pre and Maria Callas.

Does she play like man?  Discuss.

Just love opening them "cans of worms", don't ya Thally?
Men and Woman have different genetics, so there is bound to be some difference, but the dirty little secret is that we are all,  male and female inside---whoops ---shocking! Lack of comprehension and acceptance  of this is due to socialization and the creation of rigid social roles, mostly based on a Male power "schema." I know a lot of woman who are ten times tougher than any "sqeamish little baby" of a man ! I know Argerich could kick my ass! Note of interest:
 I stood about five feet from her when she came to the Steinway dealer here to pick out a concert grand for her performance. She played spinning song, Mendelssohn---while Dutoit leaned over the piano looking at her all starry eyed----Fabuluos!