Martha Argerich and Friends EMI Classics 644 7012(3 CDs) ****

The 2011 collection of recordings from the Lugano Festival's Progetto Martha Argerich features the great Argentinian pianist herself in seven of the 10 works included. The rarest is the Piano Quintet that Polish Liszt pupil Juliusz Zarebski (1854-1885) wrote in the last year of his life. Its passions run hot in this fiery performance. And Argerich is on top form with Lilya Zilberstein in Liszt's florid Concerto pathétique for two pianos. She is also heard in Beethoven (the Violin Sonata, Op 30 No 3, with Renaud Capuçon), Mozart (the almost symphonic Sonata in F, K497, for piano duet, with Cristina Marton), as well as works by Ravel and Schumann. If you like hi-jinks, you'll be delighted by the giddiness of a Suite from Shostakovich's operetta Cheryomushki arranged for three pianos (Giorgia Tomassi, Carlo Maria Griguoli, Alessandro Stella). See url.ie/57cs