Martha Argerich & Theodosia Ntokou
Biography Martha Argerich & Theodosia Ntokou
Martha Argerich
was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina). She began her first piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo SCARAMUZZA. Considered a child prodigy, she soon performs in public. In 1955, she moved to Europe and continued her studies in London, Vienna and in Switzerland with SEIDLHOFER, GULDA, MAGALOFF, Mrs LIPATTI et Stefan ASKENASE.In 1957, she won the Bolzano and Geneva Piano Competitions, and in 1965 the Warsaw International Chopin Competition. Since then, she has been one of the most prominent pianists in the world both in popularity and ability.
Martha Argerich has been rated highly for her performance of the virtuoso piano literature of the XIX and XX centuries. Her large repertoire includes Bach and Bartok, Beethoven and Messiaen, as well as Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Franck, Prokofiev, Stravinski, Shostakovitch, Tchaikovski.
Though she is permanently invited by the most prestigious orchestras, conductors and music festivals in Europe, Japan, America and Israel (with Zubin Mehta and Lahav Shani), chamber music takes a significant part of her musical life. She regularly plays and records with Nelson FREIRE, Alexandre RABINOVITCH, Mischa MAISKY, Gidon KREMER, Daniel BARENBOIM: « This harmony within a group of people gives me a strong and peaceful feeling ».
Martha Argerich has recorded for EMI, Sony, Philips, Teldec, DGG and many of her performances were broadcasted on television worldwide. She has received many awards : “Grammy Award” for Bartok and Prokofiev Concertos, “Gramophon – Artist of the Year”, “Best Piano Concerto Recording of the Year” for Chopin concertos, “Choc” of the Monde de la Musique for her Amsterdam’s recital, “Künstler des Jahres Deutscher Schallplatten Kritik”, “Grammy Award” for Prokofiev’s Cinderella with Mikhael Pletnev and lately a “Grammy Award” for Beethoven Concertos 2 & 3 with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra under Claudio Abbado (DGG / Best Instrumental Soloist Performance), “Sunday Times – Record of the Year” and “BBC Music Magazine Award” for her Shostakovitch recording (EMI – 2007). Last recordings: Mozart concertos K466 and K503 with Orchestra Mozart et Claudio Abbado, duo recital with Daniel Barenboim (Deutsche Grammophon.)
Since 1998 she is the Artistic Director of the Beppu Festival in Japan; in 1999 she creates the International Piano Competition and Festival Martha Argerich in Buenos Aires, and in June 2002 the Progetto Martha Argerich in Lugano.
Martha Argerich has received numerous distinctions: – “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres” in 1996 and “Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres ” in 2004 by the French Government – “Accademica di Santa Cecilia” in Rome in 1997 – “Musician of the Year” by Musical America 2001 – « The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette » by the Japanese Emperor and the prestigious « Praemium Imperiale » by the Japan Art Association in 2005. – Kennedy Center Honnors by Barack Obama on december 2016 – Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by Sergio Mattarella in October 2018.
Theodosia Ntokou
Classically-trained pianist Theodosia Ntokou, born and raised in Greece, gave her first solo recital at the age of twelve and went on to graduate with honors from the National Conservatory of Athens under the direction of professor and director of the Conservatory, Mr. Aris Garoufalis. She continued her studies with Hungarian pianist Laszlo Simon at the Universität der Künste Berlin and simultaneously received her Postgraduate Degree from the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest. Theodosia then moved to America where she completed her Master’s Degree with Russian pianist Oxana Yablonskaya at the famed Juilliard School in New York City and went on to earn her assistantship at the prestigious University of Hartford-The Hartt School.
While studying in New York City, Theodosia became the first prize winner of the Young Artists International Piano Competition (2006) and the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition (2007), which led to her debut at Carnegie Hall (2006, 2008) and the Berliner Philharmonie (2007). Theodosia has also performed in halls over the world including Germany, France, Greece, Italy and across the U.S. and Asia. In 2008 she received the Evelyn Bonnar Scholarship Award.
Theodosia Ntokou has also performed in many festivals across Europe such as the prestigious Project Martha Argerich, the Crans-Montana “Les Sommets du Classique” and The Festival of Busko Zdrój in Poland and has collaborated with many orchestras such as the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, the Berliner Symphoniker, the National Orchestra of Greece, and the Blutenburg Kammerphilharmonie of Munich among others.
Theodosia is a protégé of the living legend Martha Argerich and has been under her guidance since 2009.
