Martha Argerich: Deutsche Grammophon or EMI?

[grace_notes]

Hopefully I've posted this in the right section.

I get paid tomorrow and I've been looking at the Martha Argerich box sets for a while.  One set is released by Deutsche Grammophon and the other set is released by EMI.  Am I correct in thinking because they are different labels they will have completely different recordings?  

I can't decided which of the two sets I would be better to getting first. I may be able to buy one a month if I'm lucky, which set would you buy first and why?

Grace

[j_menz]

She recorded with several different labels, so to get the whole lot you're going to have to  shop around (DG, EMI and Polygram).

I'd go for the DG as she appears to have done most with them, but if you have a particular recording or performance in mind, go for the one that has that.

[grace_notes]

Thanks J Menz, I don't have any recording in mind I just like her playing and would find the box sets better value for money at the moment.  I didn't know she recorded with Polygram as well!

I found the DG box Martha Argerich - The Collection 1 (Solo Recordings) for £15, not bad for 8 CDs.  I'll start from there and hopefully get them all eventually, thank you again for taking the time to reply.

[argerichfan]

I didn't know she recorded with Polygram as well!

Polygram was merely the conglomeration of DG, Philips and Decca.

But if you like Argerich, just grab everything you can as your budget allows. IMO, she has never made a bad recording, and her Liszt B minor, Rachmaninov 3, Chopin Preludes, and Schumann Fantasie are not to be missed.

[squarevince]

grace_notes, not sure where you live, but I think I picked up the box sets 3 & 4 from Heffer's (in Cambridge) for 10GBP a piece.  I know they had 1 & 2 too, but I don't know what price they were (I had them already).

But the Collection 1 is a fantastic starting point.  Most of the 8 are great, and the Bach disc is pretty unbelievably awesome.

[lovevision]

[sophie117]

Her most recent recordings, chamber music and concertos, many live, are done at EMI. DG has most of her early solo recordings. She appears to have recorded several concertos several times at both so watch out for the collaborators.

To my ears EMI has much better acoustics. Some live recordings from lugano are incredible.