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. 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).
Disc 1
01 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV1052 : I Allegro - Maria João Pires
02 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV1052 : II Adagio - Maria João Pires
03 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV1052 : III Allegro - Maria João Pires
04 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in A major BWV1055 : I Allegro - Maria João Pires
05 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in A major BWV1055 : II Larghetto - Maria João Pires
06 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in A major BWV1055 : III Allegro ma non tanto - Maria João Pires
07 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in F minor BWV1056 : I Allegro - Maria João Pires
08 Keyboard Concerto in F minor BWV1056 : II Largo - Maria João Pires
09 Bach, JS : Keyboard Concerto in F minor BWV1056 : III Presto - Maria João Pires
Disc 2
01 Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat major K271 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major, K. 271: II. Andantino - Maria-João Pires
03 Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat major K271 : III Rondo - Presto - Maria-João Pires
04 Piano Concerto No.17 in G major K453 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
05 Piano Concerto No.17 in G major K453 : II Andante - Maria-João Pires
06 Piano Concerto No.17 in G major K453 : III Allegretto - Finale - Presto - Maria-João Pires
07 Rondo in D major K382 : I Allegretto grazioso - Adagio - Allegro - Maria-João Pires
Disc 3
01 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, 'Elvira Madigan': I. Allegro - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, 'Elvira Madigan': II. Andante - Maria-João Pires
03 Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467, 'Elvira Madigan': III. Allegro vivace assai - Maria-João Pires
04 Piano Concerto No.26 in D major K537, 'Coronation' : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
05 Piano Concerto No.26 in D major K537, 'Coronation' : II Larghetto - Maria-João Pires
06 Piano Concerto No.26 in D major K537, 'Coronation' : III Allegretto - Maria-João Pires
07 Rondo in A major K386 - Maria-João Pires
Disc 4
01 Piano Concerto No.23 in A major K488 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488: II. Adagio - Maria-João Pires
03 Piano Concerto No.23 in A major K488 : III Allegro assai - Maria-João Pires
04 Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K415 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
05 Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K415 : II Andante - Maria-João Pires
06 Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K415 : III Rondeau - Allegro - Maria-João Pires
07 Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major K449 : I Allegro vivace - Maria-João Pires
08 Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major K449 : II Andantino - Maria-João Pires
09 Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major K449 : III Allegro, ma non troppo - Maria-João Pires
Disc 5
01 Piano Concerto No.19 in F major K459 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Concerto No.19 in F major K459 : II Allegretto - Maria-João Pires
03 Piano Concerto No.19 in F major K459 : III Allegro assai - Maria-João Pires
04 Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K414 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
05 Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K414 : II Andante - Maria-João Pires
06 Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K414 : III Rondeau - Allegretto - Maria-João Pires
Disc 6
01 Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466: I. Allegro - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor K466 : II Romance - Maria-João Pires
03 Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor K466 : III Rondo - Allegro assai - Maria-João Pires
04 Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat major K595 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires
05 Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-Flat Major, K. 595: II. Larghetto - Maria-João Pires
06 Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat major K595 : III Allegro - Maria-João Pires
Disc 7
01 Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K246 : I Allegro aperto - Maria-João Pires Erato
02 Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K246 : II Andante - Maria-João Pires Erato
03 Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major K246 : III Finale - tempo di minuetto - Maria-João Pires Erato
04 Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major K595 : I Allegro - Maria-João Pires Erato
05 Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major K595 : II Larghetto - Maria-João Pires Erato
06 Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major K595 : III Allegro - Maria-João Pires Erato
Disc 8
01 Mozart : Piano Sonata No.6 in D major K284 : I Allegro - Maria João Pires
02 Mozart : Piano Sonata No.6 in D major K284 : II Rondeau en polonaise - Andante - Maria João Pires
03 Mozart : Piano Sonata No.6 in D major K284 : III Theme & variations - Maria João Pires
04 Mozart : Fantasia in C minor K475 - Maria João Pires
05 Mozart : Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor K457 : I Molto allegro - Maria João Pires
07 Mozart : Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor K457 : III Allegro assai - Maria João Pires
Disc 9
01 Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57, 'Appassionata' : I Allegro assai - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto - Maria-Joao Pires
03 Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57, 'Appassionata': III Allegro, ma non troppo - Maria-Joao Pires
Disc 10
01 Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: I Molto cantabile, molto espressivo - Maria-Joao Pires
02 Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: II Allegro molto - Maria-Joao Pires
03 Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: III Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga - L'istessi tempo dell'Arioso - L'istesso tempo della Fuga, poi a poi di nuovo vivente - Maria-Joao Pires
07 Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 : I Vivace ma non troppo - Maria-Joao Pires
08 Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 : II Prestissimo - Maria-Joao Pires
09 Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109: III Andante molto cantabile ed expressivo - Maria-Joao Pires
Disc 11
01 Schubert: Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: I. Molto moderato - Maria João Pires
02 Schubert: Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: II. Andante sostenuto - Maria João Pires
03 Schubert: Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: III. Scherzo - Maria João Pires
04 Schubert: Piano Sonata No.21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: IV. Allegro, ma non troppo - Maria João Pires
05 Schubert: Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, D. 899 - Maria João Pires
06 Schubert: Impromptu No. 4 in A-Flat Major, D. 899 - Maria João Pires
Disc 12
01 Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Molto moderato e cantabile - Maria-Joao Pires
02 Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Andante - Maria-Joao Pires
03 Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Menuetto - Allegro moderato - Maria-Joao Pires
04 Sonata D. 894 Op. 78 in G major : Allegretto - Maria-Joao Pires
05 Schubert: Impromptu No. 1 in C Minor, D. 899 - Maria-Joao Pires
06 Schubert: Impromptu No. 2 in E-Flat Major, D. 899 - Maria-Joao Pires
Disc 13
01 Fantasy D. 940 Op. 103 : Allegro molto moderato - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
02 Fantasy D. 940 Op. 103 : Largo - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
03 Fantasy D. 940 Op. 103 : Allegro vivace - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
04 3 Marches militaires D. 733 Op. 51 : 1. D-Dur Allegro vivace - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
05 3 Marches militaires D. 733 Op. 51 : 2. G-Dur Alegro molto moderato - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
06 3 Marches militaires D. 733 Op. 51 : 3. Es-Dur Allegro moderato - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
07 Rondo D. 608 Op. Posth. 138 in D-Dur : Allegretto - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
08 Rondo D. 951 Op. 107 in A-Dur : Allegretto quasi andantino - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
09 Deutscher mit zwei trios und zwei Ländler D. 618 - Maria-Joao Pires and Hüseyin Sermet
Disc 14
01 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 1 in C major - Maria-João Pires Erato
02 24 Preludes Op.28: No. No. 2 in A minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
03 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 3 in G major - Maria-João Pires Erato
04 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 4 in E minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
05 24 Preludes Op.28: No. No. 5 in D major - Maria-João Pires Erato
06 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 6 in B minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
07 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 7 in A major - Maria-João Pires Erato
08 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 8 in F sharp minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
09 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 9 in E major - Maria-João Pires Erato
10 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 10 in C sharp minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
11 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 11 in B major - Maria-João Pires Erato
12 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 12 in G sharp minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
13 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 13 in F sharp major - Maria-João Pires Erato
14 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 14 in E flat minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
15 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 15 in D flat major, "Raindrop" - Maria-João Pires Erato
16 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 16 in B flat minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
17 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 17 in A flat major - Maria-João Pires Erato
18 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 18 in F minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
19 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 19 in E flat major - Maria-João Pires Erato
20 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 20 in C minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
21 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 21 in B flat major - Maria-João Pires Erato
22 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 22 in G minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
23 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 23 in F major - Maria-João Pires Erato
24 24 Preludes Op.28: No. 24 in D minor - Maria-João Pires Erato
25 Prélude No.25 in C sharp minor, Op.45 - Sostenuto - Maria-João Pires Erato
26 Rondo a la krakowiak in F major, Op. 14 (for piano & orchestra) - Maria-João Pires Erato
Disc 15
01 Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11: I. Allegro maestoso - Maria-João Pires
02 Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11: II. Romanze - Larghetto - Maria-João Pires
Disc 17
02 Kinderszenen Op.15 : II Kuriose Geschichte - Maria-João Pires
03 Kinderszenen Op.15 : III Hasche-Mann - Maria-João Pires
04 Kinderszenen Op.15 : IV Bittendes Kind - Maria-João Pires
05 Kinderszenen Op.15 : V Glückes genug - Maria-João Pires
06 Kinderszenen Op.15 : VI Wichtige Begebenheit - Maria-João Pires
07 Kinderszenen Op.15 : VII Träumerei - Maria-João Pires
08 Kinderszenen Op.15 : VIII Am Kamin - Maria-João Pires
09 Kinderszenen Op.15 : IX Ritter vom Steckenpferd - Maria-João Pires
10 Kinderszenen Op.15 : X Fast zu ernst - Maria-João Pires
11 Kinderszenen Op.15 : XI Fürchtenmachen - Maria-João Pires
12 Kinderszenen Op.15 : XII Kind im Einschlummern - Maria-João Pires
13 Kinderszenen Op.15 : XIII Der Dichter spricht - Maria-João Pires
14 Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : I Eintritt - Maria-João Pires
15 Waldszenen Op.82 : II Jäger auf der Lauer - Maria-Joao Pires
16 Waldszenen Op.82 : III Einsame Blumen - Maria-João Pires
17 Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : IV Verrufene Stelle - Maria-João Pires
18 Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : V Freundliche Landschaft - Maria-João Pires
19 Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : VI Herberge - Maria-João Pires
20 Waldszenen, Op. 82: VII. Vogel als Prophet - Maria-João Pires
21 Schumann : Waldszenen Op.82 : VIII Jagdlied - Maria-João Pires
22 Waldszenen Op.82 : IX Abschied - Maria-João Pires
23 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : I Stücklein 1 - Maria-João Pires
24 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : II Stücklein 2 - Maria-João Pires
25 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : III Stücklein 3 - Maria-João Pires
26 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : IV Albumblatt 1 - Maria-João Pires
27 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : V Albumblatt 2 'Fata morgana' - Maria-João Pires
28 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : VI Albumblatt 3 - Maria-João Pires
29 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : VII Albumblatt 4 'Jugendschmerz' - Maria-João Pires
30 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : VIII Albumblatt 5 - Maria-João Pires
31 Schumann : Bunte Blätter Op.99 : X Präludium - Maria-João Pires