Pires, Maria-Joao (1944—)
Pires, Maria-Joao (1944—)
Portuguese pianist who was especially known for her performances of Mozart. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 23, 1944.
Maria-Joao Pires dominated the concert stages in the 1970s and 1980s, and was the most famous Portuguese pianist of that time. She was born in Lisbon in 1944, made her recital debut at age five, and had performed a Mozart concerto in public by age seven. Her musical education took place privately and at the Lisbon Conservatory, while advanced studies were in Munich with Karl Engel. Among the many prizes Pires has won, perhaps the most important was first prize at the 1970 Beethoven Competition in Brussels. A sought-after performer, especially in Europe, Pires performed with the Montreal Symphony in 1986, and finally made her first United States tour in 1988. Her performances of Schumann and Chopin were impressive and revealed an artist on the threshold of greatness. Pires was a superb Mozart performer, particularly of the sonatas, which she has recorded.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia