Disc: 1
1. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV1052 : I Allegro - By Maria João Pires
2. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV1052 : II Adagio - By Maria João Pires
3. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV1052 : III Allegro - By Maria João Pires
4. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in A major BWV1055 : I Allegro - By Maria João Pires
5. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in A major BWV1055 : II Larghetto - By Maria João Pires
6. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in A major BWV1055 : III Allegro ma non tanto - By Maria João Pires
7. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in F minor BWV1056 : I Allegro - By Maria João Pires
8. Keyboard Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo - By Maria João Pires
9. Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in F minor BWV1056 : III Presto - By Maria João Pires
Disc: 2
1. Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat major K271 : I Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271: II. Andantino
3. Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat major K271 : III Rondo - Presto
4. Piano Concerto No.17 in G major K453 : I Allegro
5. Piano Concerto No.17 in G major K453 : II Andante
6. Piano Concerto No.17 in G major K453 : III Allegretto - Finale - Presto
7. Rondo in D major K382 : I Allegretto grazioso - Adagio - Allegro
Disc: 3
1. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, 'Elvira Madigan': I. Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, 'Elvira Madigan': II. Andante
3. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, 'Elvira Madigan': III. Allegro vivace assai
4. Piano Concerto No.26 in D major K537, 'Coronation' : I Allegro
5. Piano Concerto No.26 in D major K537, 'Coronation' : II Larghetto
6. Piano Concerto No.26 in D major K537, 'Coronation' : III Allegretto
7. Rondo in A major K386
Disc: 4
1. Piano Concerto No.23 in A major K488 : I Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488: II. Adagio
3. Piano Concerto No.23 in A major K488 : III Allegro assai
4. Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K415 : I Allegro
5. Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K415 : II Andante
6. Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K415 : III Rondeau - Allegro
7. Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major K449 : I Allegro vivace
8. Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major K449 : II Andantino
9. Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major K449 : III Allegro, ma non troppo
Disc: 5
1. Piano Concerto No.19 in F major K459 : I Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No.19 in F major K459 : II Allegretto
3. Piano Concerto No.19 in F major K459 : III Allegro assai
4. Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K414 : I Allegro
5. Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K414 : II Andante
6. Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K414 : III Rondeau - Allegretto
7. Rondo in A Minor, K. 511
Disc: 6
1. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466: I. Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor K466 : II Romance
3. Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor K466 : III Rondo - Allegro assai
4. Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat major K595 : I Allegro
5. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-Flat Major, K. 595: II. Larghetto
6. Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat major K595 : III Allegro
Disc: 7
1. Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K246 : I Allegro aperto - By Maria-João Pires Erato
2. Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K246 : II Andante - By Maria-João Pires Erato
3. Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K246 : III Finale - tempo di minuetto - By Maria-João Pires Erato
4. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major K595 : I Allegro - By Maria-João Pires Erato
5. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major K595 : II Larghetto - By Maria-João Pires Erato
6. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major K595 : III Allegro - By Maria-João Pires Erato
Disc: 8
1. Mozart : Piano Sonata No.6 in D major K284 : I Allegro - By Maria João Pires
2. Mozart : Piano Sonata No.6 in D major K284 : II Rondeau en polonaise - Andante - By Maria João Pires
3. Mozart : Piano Sonata No.6 in D major K284 : III Theme & variations - By Maria João Pires
4. Mozart : Fantasia in C minor K475 - By Maria João Pires
5. Mozart : Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor K457 : I Molto allegro - By Maria João Pires
6. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. 457: II. Adagio - By Maria João Pires
7. Mozart : Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor K457 : III Allegro assai - By Maria João Pires
Disc: 9
1. Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57, 'Appassionata' : I Allegro assai
2. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto - By Maria-Joao Pires
3. Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57, 'Appassionata': III Allegro, ma non troppo - By Maria-Joao Pires
4. Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor Op.31 No.2, 'The Tempest' : I Largo - Allegro
5. Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor Op.31 No.2, 'The Tempest' : II Adagio
6. Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor Op.31 No.2, 'The Tempest' : III Allegretto
7. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
8. Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor Op.27 No.2, 'Moonlight' : II Allegretto
9. Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor Op.27 No.2, 'Moonlight' : III Presto agitato
Disc: 10
1. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: I Molto cantabile, molto espressivo - By Maria-Joao Pires
2. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: II Allegro molto - By Maria-Joao Pires
3. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: III Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga - L'istessi tempo dell - By Maria-Joao Pires
4. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13, 'Pathétique' : I Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
5. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13, 'Pathétique' : II Adagio cantabile
6. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Op.13, 'Pathétique' : III Rondo
7. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 : I Vivace ma non troppo - By Maria-Joao Pires
8. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 : II Prestissimo - By Maria-Joao Pires
9. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109: III Andante molto cantabile ed expressivo - By Maria-Joao Pires
Disc: 11
1. Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: I. Molto moderato - By Maria João Pires
2. Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: II. Andante sostenuto - By Maria João Pires
3. Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: III. Scherzo - By Maria João Pires
4. Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: IV. Allegro, ma non troppo - By Maria João Pires
5. Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, D. 899 - By Maria João Pires
6. Impromptu No. 4 in A-Flat Major, D. 899 - By Maria João Pires
Disc: 12
1. Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Molto moderato e cantabile - By Maria-Joao Pires
2. Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Andante - By Maria-Joao Pires
3. Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Menuetto - Allegro moderato - By Maria-Joao Pires
4. Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Allegretto - By Maria-Joao Pires
5. Impromptu No. 1 in C Minor, D. 899 - By Maria-Joao Pires
6. Impromptu No. 2 in E-Flat Major, D. 899 - By Maria-Joao Pires
Disc: 13
1. Fantasy D. 940 Op. 103 : Allegro molto moderato - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
2. Fantasy D. 940 Op. 103 : Largo - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
3. Fantasy D. 940 Op. 103 : Allegro vivace - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
4. 3 Marches militaires D. 733 Op. 51 : 1. D-Dur Allegro vivace - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
5. 3 Marches militaires D. 733 Op. 51 : 2. G-Dur Alegro molto moderato - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
6. 3 Marches militaires D. 733 Op. 51 : 3. Es-Dur Allegro moderato - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
7. Rondo D. 608 Op. Posth. 138 in D-Dur : Allegretto - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
8. Rondo D. 951 Op. 107 in A-Dur : Allegretto quasi andantino - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
9. Deutscher mit zwei trios und zwei Ländler D. 618 - By Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
Disc: 14
1. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 1 in C major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
2. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. No. 2 in A minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
3. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 3 in G major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
4. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 4 in E minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
5. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. No. 5 in D major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
6. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 6 in B minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
7. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 7 in A major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
8. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 8 in F sharp minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
9. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 9 in E major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
10. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 10 in C sharp minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
11. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 11 in B major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
12. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 12 in G sharp minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
13. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 13 in F sharp major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
14. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 14 in E flat minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
15. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 15 in D flat major, "Raindrop" - By Maria-João Pires Erato
16. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 16 in B flat minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
17. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 17 in A flat major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
18. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 18 in F minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
19. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 19 in E flat major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
20. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 20 in C minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
21. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 21 in B flat major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
22. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 22 in G minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
23. 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 23 in F major - By Maria-João Pires Erato
24. Preludes Op.28: No. 24 in D minor - By Maria-João Pires Erato
25. Prélude No.25 in C sharp minor, Op.45 - Sostenuto - By Maria-João Pires Erato
26. Rondo a la krakowiak in F major, Op. 14 (for piano & orchestra) - By Maria-João Pires Erato
Disc: 15
1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro maestoso
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11: II. Romanze - Larghetto
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor Op. 11 : III Rondo - Vivace
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor Op. 21 : I Maestoso
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor Op. 21 : II Larghetto
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor Op. 21 : III Allegro vivace
Disc: 16
1. Waltz No. 4 in F Major Op. 34 No.3, 'Valse brillante'
2. Waltz No. 5 in A-Flat Major Op. 42, 'Grande valse'
3. Waltz No. 6 in D-Flat Major Op. 64 No. 1
4. Waltz No. 9 in A-Flat Major Op. 69 No. 1
5. Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor Op. 64 No. 2
6. Waltz No. 11 in G-Flat Major Op. 70 No. 1
7. Waltz No. 10 in B Minor Op. 69 No. 2
8. Waltz No. 14 in E Minor Op. posth.
9. Waltz No. 3 in A Minor Op. 34 No. 2
10. Waltz No. 8 in A-Flat Major Op. 64 No. 3
11. Waltz No. 12 in F Minor Op. 70 No. 2
12. Waltz No. 13 in D-Flat Major Op. 70 No. 3
13. Waltz No. 1 in E-Flat Major Op. 18, 'Grande valse brillante'
14. Waltz No. 2 in A-Flat Major Op. 34 No. 1, 'Valse brillante'
Disc: 17
1. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: I. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
2. Kinderszenen Op.15 : II Kuriose Geschichte
3. Kinderszenen Op.15 : III Hasche-Mann
4. Kinderszenen Op.15 : IV Bittendes Kind
5. Kinderszenen Op.15 : V Glückes genug
6. Kinderszenen Op.15 : VI Wichtige Begebenheit
7. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: VII. Träumerei
8. Kinderszenen Op.15 : VIII Am Kamin
9. Kinderszenen Op.15 : IX Ritter vom Steckenpferd
10. Kinderszenen Op.15 : X Fast zu ernst
11. Kinderszenen Op.15 : XI Fürchtenmachen
12. Kinderszenen, Op. 15: XII. Kind im Einschlummern
13. Kinderszenen Op.15 : XIII Der Dichter spricht
14. Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : I Eintritt
15. Waldszenen Op.82 : II Jäger auf der Lauer - By Maria-Joao Pires
16. Waldszenen Op.82 : III Einsame Blumen
17. Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : IV Verrufene Stelle
18. Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : V Freundliche Landschaft
19. Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : VI Herberge
20. Waldszenen, Op. 82: VII. Vogel als Prophet
21. Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : VIII Jagdlied
22. Waldszenen Op.82 : IX Abschied
23. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : I Stücklein 1
24. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : II Stücklein 2
25. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : III Stücklein 3
26. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : IV Albumblatt 1
27. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : V Albumblatt 2 'Fata morgana'
28. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : VI Albumblatt 3
29. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : VII Albumblatt 4 'Jugendschmerz'
30. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : VIII Albumblatt 5
31. Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : X Präludium
Maria João Pires “shapes and colours every phrase, and with immaculate taste, and she makes sure the phrases end as eloquently as they begin,” wrote Gramophone in 1974. “She conveys not just the details but the relevance of every note to the whole ... Best of all, she communicates everything she has discovered about the music, and it is worth having.” This Portuguese pupil of Wilhelm Kempff, Pires was one of the artists who defined the Erato label in the 1970s and 1980s.
With her refined, honest artistry, the Portugese pianist Maria João Pires – who turns 70 in July 2014 – was one of the musicians who defined the Erato label in the 1970s and 1980s. This 17-CD box gathers together all the recordings she made over the period from 1972 to 1987 and it reflects the consistent focus of her repertoire, with its special emphasis on Austro-German composers of the Classical and early-Romantic periods. Embracing solo works, piano duets and concertos, it contains works by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Beethoven, but also by Bach and Chopin.
In 1974, Gramophone welcomed her (in Mozart) as a pianist who “shapes and colours every phrase, and with immaculate taste, and she makes sure the phrases end as eloquently as they begin ... she gets beneath the music’s surface and conveys not just the details but the relevance of every note to the whole ... Best of all, in the moment of performance she communicates everything she has discovered about the music, and it is worth having.”
After initial studies at the Lisbon Conservatory, Maria João Pires moved to Germany where her teachers included the great Wilhelm Kempff and the man who became her mentor: the Swiss-born pianist Karl Engel, a pupil of Alfred Cortot and well known as an accompanist to singers. In 1970, she won the Beethoven Bicentennial Competition in Brussels, which brought her to international attention. Over the years she has become recognised as a pianist in the line of such great figures as Kempff, Edwin Fischer and Clara Haskil – musicians valued by connoisseurs for favouring clarity and putting the composer and his music first, rather than drawing attention to themselves.
The Penguin Guide wrote that “She strikes an ideal balance between poise and expressive sensibility, conveying a sense of spontaneity in everything she does, while in a 2012 interview Pires summed up her philosophy as a musician: “Learning music is learning about life. You don’t learn how to play an instrument without learning how to discover music through yourself. Your relationship to the outside world is very important.” Speaking to Gramophone in 1996, she said: a concert should allow one to experience some kind of emotion ... to dream ... Life is so short – we should try to live things more intensely.”
Seeing her performing career as just one part of her life, Pires has never been hungry for publicity and fame; her family is very important to her and for several years she ran a music education centre on her farm in Portugal.
Pires’ partners on these classic Erato recordings include the Turkish pianist Hüseyin Sermet (in duets by Schubert) and the conductors Michel Corboz, Armin Jordan, Claudio Scimone and Theodor Guschlbauer. A number of items in the collection (which features the original LP/CD artwork on the individual CD slipcases) have never before been released on CD on Europe: Beethoven, Sonatas op 109 and 110; Chopin, Préludes and Krakowiak; Mozart Concertos Nos. 8 & 27 (with Claudio Scimone conducting I Solisti Veneti).
