Refined but also profoundly expressive, Maria João Pires is one of the great Mozart interpreters of her generation. She returns to the Proms to continue our series of late Mozart piano concertos.

No. 23 in A major boasts quasi-operatic melodies and deft woodwind colouring. It took musicians and audiences a long time to come to terms with Schubert’s ‘unplayable’ Ninth Symphony, but now – like that other great unplayable, Beethoven’s Ninth – it has won an unquestioned place in the repertoire.

Schubert
Overture in C major, ‘In the Italian style’ 9’

Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488 26’

interval

Schubert
Symphony No. 9 in C major, ‘Great’ 51’

Maria João Pires piano

Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Bernard Haitink conductor