Maria João Pires, one of the world’s most acclaimed pianists and a central figure in Portuguese and European classical music, has formally announced that she has ended her career as a performer.
The declaration was made during the award acceptance ceremony for the Helena Vaz da Silva European Award, held on November 1 at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.
In her award acceptance speech, she stated that she had “ended [her] career as a performer,” adding that she is “in a process of radical change, in a search for truth—truths.”
At 81, Pires stated that she has reflected on a turning point in her artistic and personal life. She emphasized that her decision is more than professional, representing a profound transformation in her spiritual and personal path.
The announcement comes after a significant health issue earlier this year. In June 2025, Pires informed the public that she would have to step away temporarily from the stage due to a cerebrovascular condition.
“Dear friends, I regret to inform you that I will have to step away from the stage for some time. A cerebrovascular health problem has arisen, which I see as a sign—perhaps a warning,” she announced.
Her formal public announcement closes a luminous career spanning more than six decades, marked by poetic interpretations, clarity of phrasing, and a widely recognized musical integrity.
Despite official stepping away from performance, Pires emphasized that she remains dedicated to a new phase of artistic and humanistic exploration, stressing, “I am searching for other truths.”
For audiences around the world, Maria João Pires’s announcement closes a historic chapter in classical music while opening another defined by reflection, teaching, and lasting cultural impact. Her contribution to music, culture, and education is expected to continue through alternative forms of expression beyond the concert stage.
Born in Lisbon in 1944, Maria João Pires is internationally regarded as one of the greatest pianists of her generation. She made her public debut at the age of five. She has received global recognition early in her career, notably winning the 1970 Beethoven Bicentennial Competition in Brussels, which launched her onto the world stage.
Renowned for her luminous sound, poetic sensibility, and profound interpretative depth, Pires has recorded extensively for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, producing benchmark interpretations of Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, and Bach. Her chamber music collaborations have been equally celebrated.
Beyond performance, Pires is also recognized for her lifelong commitment to pedagogy and community, notably through the international artistic initiatives in Portugal and abroad. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of recordings, recitals, and pedagogical projects, including the internationally respected Partitura Project, focused on education, collaboration, and social inclusion.
She has received numerous honors, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint James of the Sword (Portugal), the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (Portugal), the Prémio Helena Vaz da Silva for European cultural citizenship, the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy (Japan), the UNESCO Artist for Peace designation and multiple international recording awards including, Gramophone, Diapason d’Or, and Choc du Monde de la Musique.
Carolina Matos/ Editor
