My favorite pianist ...

is Maria Joao Pires, born in Lisbon in 1944.

I heard her play Mozart in Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City. It must have been 1992 (or maybe 1995 - I should check the program).

It was an absolutely divine evening, one of the very best musical moments in my life. I fell in love with her art ... and almost with her too ...



That night, she played with her husband, violinist Augustin Dumay. The very next day I ran to the nearest record shop to buy some CD's.

If I am informed correctly, she has had very serious health problems since - it shows, but fortunately one does not hear it.