The renowned pianist Maria João Pires has suffered a minor stroke, resulting in the cancellation of several concerts.
This was confirmed by Theatro Circo in Braga, where the artist was scheduled to perform on June 13.
“Due to health reasons, Maria João Pires’s concert at Theatro Circo, scheduled for June 13, has been canceled. The pianist suffered a minor stroke, which prevents her from performing in upcoming concerts in Portugal,” announced a social media post from Theatro Circo, wishing her “a swift and full recovery.”
Theatro das Figuras in Faro also confirmed the cancellation of Maria João Pires’s concert on June 18, adding that the pianist is unable to “fulfill the scheduled concert dates in Portugal.”
A performance at the Sintra Festival on June 15 was also canceled.
These concerts were set to precede various performances across Europe and Japan. The artist has not yet commented on the situation.
Maria João Pires, who turned 80 last July, is Portugal’s most international and esteemed pianist, with an artistic career dating back to the late 1940s, first performing in public at the age of four.
Her artistic achievements include the first prize at the Beethoven International Competition (1970), the International Music Council Prize from UNESCO (1970), and the Pessoa Prize (1989).
[News updated at 5:29 PM]
