Recently awarded the 150th-year Sibelius Medal, Sir Simon Rattle has just given an interview to Vesa Sirèn for the Helsingin Sanomat about the Finnish composer’s work. Just in time for the Sibelius cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Musicians
Recordings: Maria João Pires
What a joy it is to listen to Maria João Pires!
At 70, the Portuguese pianist seems to have decided to take a new turn in her career by leaving her long-time recording company, Deutsche Grammophon, and signing on to the much smaller but very active Onyx, and by recently changing management agency.
Pires is undoubtedly one of today’s foremost pianists. Her approach is simple and understated, her playing of admirable clarity and humanity. With her, it is always all about the music, not about the performance, nor the show. This can, at times, seem almost disconcerting in a business usually eager to promote the latest star. At the very least, it is unusual.
The Shadows of Time 