Maria João Pires exudes elegance and grace in Cleveland recital

By Cameron Kelsall, 04 May 2023

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“a profound reading of a deeply affecting work”

Reviewed at Severance Music Center: Mandel Concert Hall, Cleveland on 3 May 2023

Schubert, Piano Sonata no. 13 in A major, D.664

Debussy, Suite bergamasque

Schubert, Piano Sonata no. 21 in B flat major, D.960

Debussy, Arabesque no. 1 Andantino con moto

Maria João Pires, Piano

Festival Strings Lucerne bring sleek clarity and ambient stasis

Simon Cummings, 31st May

Maria João Pires gives a soporific, lacklustre performance of Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, while the Festival Strings Lucerne transform Honegger’s Pastorale d'été into a riveting ambient moodscape and bring pristine clarity to the Pastoral Symphony.

***11

Bruckner with a light touch from Blomstedt and the Philharmonia

Dominic Lowe, 26th May

Sensitive, nuanced Bruckner from Blomstedt and a Mozartian treat from Maria João Pires.

****1

Maria João Pires takes the spotlight at the Argerich Festival

Cameron Kelsall, 1st July

A collaborative performance of Mozart's Sonata for two pianos was not broadcast, but Pires stanched any disappoint by offering refined interpretations of Schubert.

****1

Maria João Pires reveals her poetic pianism in rare Aix appearance

Edward Sava-Segal, 7th April

A lovely recital of Schubert, Debussy and Beethoven by the Portuguese pianist in Aix’s Théâtre du Jeu de Paume.

****1

A sliver of musical reflection

James Imam, 3rd September

To celebrate a popular thinker's influence across the breadth of the arts in a single concert is clearly no small ambition. This programme sagged under the weight of its disparate components, but the individual works shone brilliantly.

***11

A surprising role reversal in Cleveland

Frank Kuznik, 10th March

Maria João Pires showcases a young pianist who steals the show.

***11

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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.