Maria João Pires

“This combination of searching the ideal timbre, perfectly articulating while leaving space for fantasy, but still the capacity to listen and conversate with the orchestra.”

“(…) the Portuguese pianist stripped away the sheen that often coats Beethoven piano performances and cut straight to the music's wild, beating heart.”

“Uncompromising. Bright and clear. Soft. Poetic. Sensitive. Never sentimental. Always burning”

“… an elegant technician and probing interpreter without a trace of flashiness. Her playing of the Beethoven concerto showed that a performance can be both refined and bracing. Her poetic way and lyrical grace in the slow movement were particularly beautiful…”

“Pires was at her finest in the concerto’s outer movements, tossing off the intricate passagework of the opening Allegro with plenty of sparkle and producing exuberant, crisply articulate phrases in the finale.”

“With Conductor Laureate Herbert Blomstedt leading the orchestra and Maria João Pires playing with sublime finesse, this was a performance of Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto that emphasized the delicacy of this work. Ms. Pires never overstates the music. Even when playing fortissimo, she never hammers away as many other pianists do when playing Beethoven. Instead, Pires takes us inside the music, enabling us to feel the delicacy that often gets over-whelmed by more aggressive pianists."

“The final Rondo was thrilling from both a technical and expressive point of view. She tackled all the finale’s demands with apparent ease and without sacrificing any of the lyrical genius she displayed in the slow movement.”“The performance could be summarized with the words sincere and cohesive. There was not a note out of place, and the pianist and orchestra were truly in concert with each other. Instead of the pianist dominating the performance, Pires was acutely aware of her responsibilities, sharing the space with the orchestra. It was the mark of an artist who was serving the music. Speed and power will always win accolades, but Pires refused to resort to pyrotechnics, and preserved the timeless quality of the work.”

“The performance could be summarized with the words sincere and cohesive. There was not a note out of place, and the pianist and orchestra were truly in concert with each other. Instead of the pianist dominating the performance, Pires was acutely aware of her responsibilities, sharing the space with the orchestra. It was the mark of an artist who was serving the music. Speed and power will always win accolades, but Pires refused to resort to pyrotechnics, and preserved the timeless quality of the work.”

“Pires’ assured and expressive reading of the Beethoven Concerto started with bold and aristocratic confidence, but she also showed a vivacious side. Unafraid of taking playful risks, with Blomstedt’s sympathetic support she essayed a highly characterful interpretation. It was well-worth waiting for.”