A titan of the piano turns 80
Daily Comfort ZoneSeven years ago, the Portuguese poet of the piano Maria Joao Pires shocked the classical world by announcing her retirement.
It seemed somehow unreasonable as she was playing better than ever and her occasional four-hand partner, Martha Argerich, three years older, showed no sign of slowing down.
But Pires said she had been on stage more or less continuously sinc e the age of five and she deserved a different life.
Well,that went well. Pires returned to the stage in 2020 and has barely paused since.
Tomorrow, she turns 80.
One of my most powerful memories is of Pires playing Chopin’s Nocturnes at a late-night BBC Prom, with her grandson turning pages. The rest of us hardly dared to breathe. Artists of this calibre come once in two decades. Long may she play.
She is certainly a wonderful pianist! But why name her a titan? Its once again referring to the power and mightyness of a man. She doesn´t need such words at all because she is a complete unique pianist. And furthermore she is an artist who (i think) never tried to overwhelm by “titanic” sound, extremly virtuoso playing or bombastic interpretation.
…so should she be called a Titania?
There were 6 males and 6 females, all referred to as Titans.
In this case, the word “titan” is probably used here to remind readers of her diminutive stature and to highlight the contrast between our modest visual impression of her personal appearance and clear aural evidence of her outstanding talent.
Deusa Divina!
We’ve heard her all too infrequently here in Boston. But whenever she’s been in Boston her, her performances have such integrity and honesty one can’t help but to be moved. She did one of the Mozart piano concertos with Bernard Haitink about a decade ago, and it was pure poetry. A fabulous artist – may she have many good years to come.
I was there. Mozart #23. Unforgettable
Happy birthday – and long may you continue to enchant your audiences.
Class is immortal. Many happy returns to the keyboard.
Love her playing, especially her Schubert
Her social media people are working overtime for the past week selling DG albums from years ago.
I still remember a concert from the early 1990s – Mozart piano concerto no. 27, K. 595 with the Cleveland Orchestra. She played beautifully. That concert also featured Mahler 4 with Dawn Upshaw – a grand night.
I also saw her playing no. 27 in 1994 with the Israel Philharmonic and have fond memories of that evening.
Ah! –Dawn Upshaw. Mahler 4 was written for her voice — with the “boychoir-ish” innocent quality foremost per the composer. Note to self: find this record
There were 6 Male Titans and 6 Female Titans.
Perhaps Ms. Pires is the seventh.
A rather mediocre talent, of safe, middle-of-the-road performances, whose fame is a product of the DG machine. Meanwhile, far greater talents like Imogen Cooper languish in relative obscurity. Sad.
You must be deaf to tones that emanate from the heart.
Specsavers do hearing aids as well, now.
Imogen Cooper a far greater talent than Maria Joao Pires? Ha ha ha….
Maria João Pires remains an icon of seamless technique, sensitivity, and beauty,and has been praised by conductors Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Chailly, among many artists; to enter a sacred arena of such talent and demean one of its legends is like entering a garden and screaming obscenities at a rose in full bloom.
If Ms. Pires’ artistry doesn’t speak to you, the deficiency is yours, not hers.
As far as Imogen Cooper goes, has it occurred to you that not every great musician wishes to travel and perform one hundred concerts a year?
Wonderful artist, with so much integrity.
I find that the word “integrity”, when applied to classical musicians, is most often a euphemism for “boring”, “unimaginative” and “safe”. As Schnabel said, “Safety last!”
It might just mean you don’t understand music or words Gabriel.
Titan? No. A poet? Definitely! “Titan” implies that she could thunder her way through Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky – which of course Pires could not. The big, virtuoso repertoire was beyond her abilities. She wisely stuck to repertoire that she could manage with authority, which best featured her insightful gifts – not unlike Lili Kraus, for example.
In the opera world sounds better: La Divina, La Stupenda etc.
Exquisite musical expression. Mile grazie !!
Not many pianists like her.
Fantastically lovely! All praise for the senior seasoned artists! May God continue to bless you for many more years!
Maria is a musical poet whose playing is exquisite. I am sorry for those who cannot hear/feel this beauty.
Have a very Happy Birthday dear person.
SueO Australia
Amazing! Chopin work is even more wonderful to listen to as this Pianist celebrates her golden years…
I am a composer, keyboard musician. She is beautiful and fantastic. I have portugese blood, here is my gift to her. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/AR3RYPQZrSAa3snH/?mibextid=NqTh7c
Happy birthday, Maria poeta pianista! Wishing you many more.
You are in our hearts, as are your unique interpretations.
We love you en masse! from a fan & music critic.
Just saw her recital at the Gilmore Festival in April and it was the greatest, most transcendental musical experience of my life. I still get shivers just thinking about it.
A wonderful pianist; integrity informs her every pianistic utterance. She came to Birmingham (UK) Town Hall some years ago with a programme with included, inter alia Beethoven’s Op.111 sonata which she told me she’d only recently learned. No feeling of a ‘new’ work but an overwhelming sense of a master pianist who (obviously) well acquainted with the work brought her vast experience to making the notes ‘visible’. She also held her hand up to mine – tiny, scarcely able to stretch an octave which merely served to increase one’s admiration for all she has achieved. Her Mozart in particular is peerless. Happy birthday Maria!