From Portugal: pianist Maria João Pires

Distinguished by “her crystalline technique, spontaneous poetry and profound, impassioned musicianship.” the Lisbon-born pianist Maria João Pires is best known for her performances of Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Schumann. As a child prodigy, Pires gave her first recital at age 4 and went on to perform a Mozart concerto at age 5.

Since the 1970s, she has devoted herself to furthering the influence of art in life, community and education. In 1999, she created the Belgais Centre for the Study of the Arts in Portugal. Pires believes music should make the world a better place. “We have so many emergencies to deal with in our society now, things like the breakdown of the family, environmental disasters,” she has said. "We have to ask, ’How can the way we make music be changed, to help people to face these things?’ "

Maria João Pires performs works by Schumann, Beethoven and Debussy in a Symphony Presents Piano recital on May 28.