Maria João Pires in Recital

Way back in 1970, Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires won the Beethoven Bicentennial Competition in Brussels. She’s been regarded as a Beethoven connoisseur ever since. Tonight, she makes a rare appearance in Cleveland for a recital in Reinberger Chamber Hall at Severance Hall in which she will perform Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 31, Opus 110 and Piano Sonata No. 32, Opus 111. With pianist Julien Brocal, she will begin the program with Ravel’s transcription of Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun for piano four hands. Brocal will also perform Ravel’s Sonatine and Miroirs. The concert starts at 7:30. A free pre-concert talk with Pires and Brocal takes place from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 and $65. (Niesel)