Pires to retire

Maria João Pires, the widely lauded pianist, says she will end her 60-year performing career and devote herself to several projects for children in her adopted homeland, Brazil.

“Soloist comes from ‘solo’, meaning ‘alone’. Alone, separated, different. I don’t feel this is pleasant, I don’t feel this is healthy," the Portuguese-born pianist tells Geoff Brown of The Times of London:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7015482.ece