A pianist earns the admiration of the public when successfully taking highly virtuosic works. Yet in other cases, impressions are won by the intelligence and subtlety of an interpretation, by the performer’s skilful unveiling of musical depth in a manner that is both disarming and moving. Maria João Pires clearly belongs to the second category. The great Portuguese pianist has been a staple star on the international musical firmament since the early 1970s. To this day, her playing remains full of vigour and energy, radiating the maturity and sophisticated quality of her musical thinking.