Maria João Pires—Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

This box set of 38 CDs contains the complete DG recordings of now 77-year-old Portuguese concert pianist Maria João Pires. Like all well-behaved box sets during this wonderful CD renaissance, the set is complete, with original artwork on light cardboard stock, a generously detailed booklet, all in an attractive, easy-to-open box, and most importantly, very attractively priced. Instead of by the kilogram, we price per individual CD—Pires’ DG? USD$2.57 per disc. Still a good bargain. But be quick on all these fabulous box sets—they’re either disappearing after one printing never to return or creeping up in price just like old-school vinyl.

This set is still widely available at publication. The original release date was in September 2020.

In addition to all of Pires’ solo recordings, the set also includes all her DG collabs, as accompanist and in chamber music and concertos.

All 38 CDs highlight Pires’ exquisite artistry and her unique, poetic style. Somewhat shy of the concert platform (she’s not too fussed with recording, either), Pires retired in 2017. She is not of the “keyboard giant” class like Lang Lang, Ashkenazy, Richter, Argerich and the like. More, each of her carefully curated, somewhat shortlist of composers suits her technical and musical abilities. So no matter Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, Schubert or Schumann, you’ll be hearing perfectly judged, beautiful sounding performances of the most refined type. A lioness in her way. As such, if you’re a fan of Uchida, Perahia, Michelangeli, Seong Cho Jin, etc, as I am, you’re going to love this set.

The recordings are uniformly fine and capture her beautiful tone and tasteful pedalling. And when she does let loose, the DG engineers give the listener her amazing panoply of colours. Pires began recording for Denon and Erato in the ‘70s. These CDs cover her recordings with DG from 1989 through 2012.

No matter the composer, you’ll find Pires in exceptional form as a soloist or spectacular accompanist. Her ex-partner, the French violinist Agustin Dumay, receives the most sensitive accompaniment. Her contributions to his very fine Beethoven, Brahms, Grieg and Franck Sonatas are superb. Everything a wonderful collaboration should be. And when it’s time for the piano to shine, she sparkles.

So, her favourite composers are represented, but there are two, and for different reasons, you could place them at or near the top of the pile for performance and recorded quality. Considering the competition, the stage shy lady holds her own against the august company.

First, the best. Her Mozart is legendary. Perfection in phrasing, technique and tone. She brings her poetic vision to the seemingly mundane (What was it Schnabel said of Mozart's Piano Sonatas?). Every sonata here brings nothing but joy at every phrase. You won’t hear better. Her concertos are equally fine with fine orchestral contributions. For the Piano Sonatas, the completists will be happy (like me). We get all 18. Each a polished gem with natural phrasing of which Schnabel would have been proud. And the concertos experience the same magical phrasing. Sadly, only 7 of the mid/later concertos are included. The disc from 2012 featuring Piano Concertos Nos. 27 and 20 with Abbado conducting his Orchestra Mozart is especially wonderful with a recording suitable for audiophile trade show demonstrations. Spectacular for both orchestra and piano. Interestingly, recorded in two different locations but remarkably similar in beauty and ambiance. Maybe the engineering source, the fabulously consistent Emil Berliner Studios had something to do with it?

I didn’t know her Chopin. Perahia and Cho are always mentioned as masters. Her style is reminiscent, so, I’m not sure why I thought her performances would not be top drawer. Oh, ye, of little faith. Pires is a mistress of the master. Her pedalling and touch make every Chopin work a beautiful listening experience. You get all the Nocturnes and Preludes, both Concertos and sundry other solo works.

As her technique is so refined and crystalline, any composer she plays you would expect to receive the same treatment as Mozart and Chopin. Well, almost. The small number of Beethoven (3 sonatas) may have you wishing for the entire set, same for Schumann and Schubert. Alas, not to be. And though the sonatas of the three great composers receive fine performances, they don’t quite reach the peaks of Mozart and Chopin.

I’ll say the same for her Bach (1 CD) and Brahms solo piano as I did for Beethoven, Schumann and Schubert. Very fine with outstanding, audiophile-quality sonics, but the competition is mind-boggling. It’s with these composers where you may find more satisfying performances elsewhere—Gould/Bach, Kempff/Beethoven, Brendel/Schubert and Pollini/Schumann. That said, Pires’ Schumann Piano Concerto is one of the best on record.

This is one of those box sets with every CD a winner. Every performance brings musical insights aplenty. Maria Joao Pires is one of the most captivating pianists of the last 50 years. Buy this wonderful set before it’s gone.