Birth

:

July 23, 1944 in Lisbon, Portugal

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Maria João Pires is a renowned classical pianist who has captivated audiences around the world with her virtuosic performances and sensitive interpretations of some of the most beloved works in the classical repertoire. Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1944, Pires began playing the piano at a young age and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Pires' early musical education was shaped by her mother, who was a pianist and teacher. Under her guidance, Pires developed a deep love for the piano and began to study with some of the most respected teachers in Portugal. She made her debut as a soloist with the Portuguese National Radio Symphony Orchestra at the age of seven, and by the time she was a teenager, she had already won several national competitions. In 1959, Pires moved to Germany to study with the renowned pianist Rosl Schmid, who had been a student of the legendary pianist Artur Schnabel. Schmid recognized Pires' exceptional talent and encouraged her to pursue a career as a concert pianist. Pires went on to study with other great pianists, including Karl Engel and Maria Curcio, and she quickly established herself as one of the most promising young pianists of her generation. Pires' breakthrough came in 1970, when she won the Beethoven Bicentennial Competition in Brussels. This prestigious competition was held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, and Pires' performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major was widely praised for its sensitivity and musicality. This victory launched Pires' international career, and she soon began performing with some of the world's leading orchestras and conductors. Over the course of her career, Pires has performed with many of the world's most renowned orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She has also collaborated with many of the world's leading conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, and Bernard Haitink. Pires is particularly renowned for her interpretations of the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. She has recorded numerous albums of these composers' works, and her recordings have won critical acclaim and numerous awards. In 1990, she won the Gramophone Award for Best Instrumental Recording for her recording of Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 27 with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. In addition to her work as a performer, Pires is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught masterclasses around the world and has worked with many young pianists who have gone on to successful careers of their own. She is also the founder of the Partitura Project, which aims to promote music education and cultural exchange in Portugal and other countries. Throughout her career, Pires has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. In 1989, she was awarded the Order of Prince Henry, one of Portugal's highest honors, for her services to music. In 2013, she was awarded the prestigious Polar Music Prize, which is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Music," for her "deeply personal and luminous interpretations of piano works from Mozart to contemporary music." Despite her many accomplishments, Pires remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She continues to perform and record, and she remains a beloved figure in the world of classical music.

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