The Colón is back to having a party with Martha Argerich as the protagonist

The first concert of the Argerich Festival, reminiscent of the anthological concerts of the past at the Teatro Colón, opened with the pianist Martha Argerich and director Charles Dutoitan artistic society with unparalleled chemistry, which has been a friend for more than sixty years on and off the stage.

Almost two decades have passed since the last time the Swiss conductor conducted at the Colón and, on this occasion, he did so at the helm of the Philharmonic Orchestra. Seeing them together on stage is very tender and moving.

There were several applause and deep emotion. One of those moments was when the grandson of the great pianist, David Chen, son of Lyda, dressed in the Argentina shirt (he is a football fan in general and Lionel Messi in particular) took the stage for an encore. With four hands they played a number of My Mother, Ravel’s goose.

Argerich’s concerts are always tinged with a magical atmosphere. As a demiurge, while many things die, his presence manages to revitalize one of the few modern rituals that survive today. Under the mastery of the pianist, music manages to transform reality into an ecstasy of happiness.

The program opened with Concerto in G by Ravel. Argerich’s electrifying rhythmic thrust is still intact at the age of 81, as felt in the extreme and vital movements of the concert. Equally intact remains its hypnotic magnetism in the slow tempo of the second movement.

The various and expressive sound levels that Argerich achieves in that particular duality between the freedom of the right hand and the rhythmic regularity of the accompaniment of the left hand are unique; the dialogue between the English horn and the arabesques of the piano is one of the great moments of musical invention.

Argerich basks in the extreme brilliance and color of the final movement, playing the burgeoning rhythmic elements with a freshness and spontaneity that seems to process things or discover them the moment he plays them.

The complicity between Dutoit – the pianist’s ex-husband – and the great interpreter is projected into a virtuous dialogue between piano and orchestra. The orchestra responded flexibly, with the colorful and subtle textures Ravel requested, but also brighter and more sparkling.

In the second part of the program, Dutoit carried out the transfiguration of the Philharmonic Orchestra with an unforgettable performance of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.

The Teatro Colón also announced that children under 35 will be able to purchase tickets for the Argerich Festival at the price of 200 pesos, for functions this Sunday, at 8:30 pm, and Wednesday and Thursday, at 8:00 pm.