September 6, 2025
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The nightmare moment of a mighty pianist

Summer’s a time for wearing silly hats

The Portuguese pianist Maria Joao Pires, 80 today, became a global legend when, at a lunchtime concert in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw in 1998, she heard the orchestra start up a different Mozart concerto from the one she was expecting to play.

Her face is a picture of panic and depression.

The conductor, Riccardo Chailly, tells her she can make the switch from memory. He said: ‘You’re going to do well.’

She replied: ‘I am going to try.’

Amazingly, she did.

The video went viral on Youtube in 2013.

Happy birthday, Maria.

The post The nightmare moment of a mighty pianist appeared first on Slippedisc.

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