Martha Argerich, one of the greatest pianists of the last 50 years, and still wonderful playing at the age of 75, had to cancel a lot of concerts in recent weeks for health problems. But in Nohant she entered the stage with her good friend, Akiko Ebi.
The Japanese-French pianist, born in Osaka in 1953, won the fifth prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition 1980, after which Martha Argerich, who was a member of the jury, took patronage over her.
The piano duo performed the Rondo D 951 by Schubert, the Sonata for two pianos KV 448 by Mozart, the Petite Suite by Debussy, the Paganini Variations for two Pianos by Lutoslawski and La Valse by Ravel on July 19th, 2017 and set the house on fire with a wide dynamic range and an adorably warm and at the same time brilliant sound. Congratulations!
Professor Ives Herny, the president and artistic director of the festival welcomed the audience at the sold out Bergerie-Auditorium du Domaine de George Sand à Nohant. The Maison de George Sand in Nohant-Vic was purchased by the French state in 1952, and preserved, because it was where George Sand wrote many of her books and hosted many of the most important artists and writers of her time, including Frédéric Chopin, Balzac, Turgenev, and Delacroix. From 1839 until 1847, Frédéric Chopin lived with her in the house, writing his Fantasy in f Minor, the Sonata Funebre, the two Nocturnes, Op. 37, and the four Mazurkas, Op. 41.
So, we hope that Martha Argerich will come back to the Nohant Festival soon to perform Chopin on Bechstein!
