Mitsuko Uchida

There is hardly a better way to approach Ludwig van Beethoven than through his piano concertos. Beethoven’s own instrument was the piano, and in his improvisations – which made him the darling of the Viennese salons – he merged virtuosity and unbridled expression. The piano concertos give a clear idea of these performances. At the same time, they are prime examples of Beethoven’s ability to create large orchestral works with seemingly endless arcs of tension. The complete recording of all five works with Mitsuko Uchida and Sir Simon Rattle was one of the most spectacular projects of the Berliner Philharmoniker during the Rattle era – and at the same time the highlight of the collaboration between the orchestra and the pianist, which began in 1984.

Either as director and pianist, or when combining the roles, Uchida lives every note, and the contribution from the orchestra is a vital one, not least from characterful woodwinds and with horns, trumpets and timpani adding a distinctive presence. Uchida's pianistic clarity and incision, and her unforced identification with the music, equates to the sort of playing that makes one listen to seemingly familiar music with fresh ears and to appreciate how an artist, even one as individual as Uchida, can search music but not dominate it . . . With crisp, well-balanced sound . . . this is a recommendable release

Soloists Mitsuko Uchida on the piano, Zinovi Kaplan on the violin and Dudu Carmel on the oboe interpret the music of Bach ("Concerto for Violin and Oboe"), Beethoven ("Piano Concerto No. 4"), Stravinsky ("Pulcinella") and Schubert ("Rosamunde Overture"). They play under the able baton of maestro Zubin Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Special features include artist bios and a documentary about the life of Johann Sebastian Bach.