At the Royal Festival Hall in London, a thrilling and uniquely spontaneous concert unfolded, featuring the legendary Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich alongside her Korean protégé, Dong-Hyek Lim. The performance resonated with a spirit of gentle anarchy, reminiscent of Jenny Joseph’s poem about defiant aging. This captivating dynamic was evident throughout their set, which traversed works by Mozart, Rachmaninov, Ravel, and Schubert.
The program itself was a testament to their improvisational approach. An advertised first half, initially slated for Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor D940, was unexpectedly replaced by Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major K448 and Ravel’s compelling two-piano arrangement of La Valse. In a characteristic display of unpredictability, the Schubert Fantasia later resurfaced as a monumental, 20-minute encore, following a powerful rendition of Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances in its original two-piano configuration.
Between pieces, the duo’s stage presence was equally unconventional and captivating. They wandered casually, exchanging quiet words and offering intermittent bows. Argerich, often leaning on Lim’s arm, nonetheless exuded an unmistakable authority, her spirit undeniably leading. The audience witnessed impromptu on-stage discussions, including deliberations about whether to switch pianos after the opening work. Page-turners occasionally faced ‘furious looks’ when caught off guard, and each new movement commenced with a palpable urgency, frequently before the audience had fully settled – all contributing to the raw, live energy of the evening.