Maria João Pires reveals her poetic pianism in rare Aix appearance

By Edward Sava-Segal, 08 April 2021

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“a true showcase for Pires’s musicality, delicacy and her mastery of the art of phrasing”

Reviewed at Théâtre du Jeu de Paume, Aix-en-Provence on 7 April 2021

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

Debussy, Suite bergamasque

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 32 in C minor, Op.111

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

Maria João Pires exudes elegance and grace in Cleveland recital

Cameron Kelsall, 3rd May

The semi-retired pianist offered a generous program of Schubert and Debussy that showcased her technical prowess and interpretive gifts.

*****

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

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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Edward Sava-Segal

Edward has been living in New York for the last 25 years, one of the reasons being the extraordinarily rich cultural life in this city. He has studied piano and classical music in his early years. He switched later on to computer science and data architecture but he kept an unwavering interest in following the classical music phenomenon here in New York and in his travels. Edward occasionally reviews fine arts events for the most prestigious literary magazine in Romania, his home country.