The Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires has entered into an agreement with Onyx Classics and her first release will be of Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos 3 and 4 (with the Swedish RSO and Daniel Harding). Pires has recorded both for Erato and, since 1989, Deutsche Grammophon: she set down the complete Mozart piano sonatas for both companies. Future plans for Onyx include Mozart violin sonatas with Augustin Dumay (also a former DG artist and now also with Onyx) and the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Dumay and Antonio Meneses. There are also plans to record Beethoven's last two piano sonatas.

Matthew Cosgrove, General Manager of Onyx Classics, commented that 'we are delighted and honoured that Maria João Pires has joined our roster of Artists and we looking forward to the many exciting projects to come.'

Among Pires's many DG recordings are a set of the Chopin Nocturnes of which Bryce Morrison wrote that 'I have no hesitation in declaring Maria João Pires – a pianist without a trace of narcissism – among the most eloquent master-musicians of our time.'