This is early vintage Argerich but the sound has transferred well to CD. She is balanced rather noticeably forward in comparison with either Emanuel Ax (see above) in the Chopin or Francois-Rene Duchable (Erato/Conifer) in the Liszt concerto. Much of the outer Chopin movements is taken remarkably fast, yet a crystalline clarity is maintained. claudio Abbado does well with the orchestral passages, lingering more than Eugene Ormandy. The latter, with the Philadelphia Orchestra complements Ax exceptionally well, and the pianist is as lucid in thought as in sound. Good sense is made of all the semiquaver figuration in the first movement's development section and an affecting lyrical feeling shapes the various statements of the second subject and is again evident in the Romance. Frankly I prefer his reading to Argerich's.
As to Liszt, the Richter interpretations on Philips are among the classics of the gramophone, and comparison with Duchable is probably more apt. The latter is a real fire-eating performance of extreme virtuosity, with fine orchestral support. This is important as Liszt makes a far more extensive use of the orchestra than Chopin, and in Duchable's version, as in Argerich's, the many orchestral solos are well phrased and clearly focused in the recording. The latter's is again a high-speed yet immaculate account of Liszt's piece, with plenty of feeling in the reflective passages. Richter remains first choice, however.'