Mitsuko Uchida

Mitsuko Uchida

Birth : 1948-12-20,

History

Dame Mitsuko Uchida (Japanese: [miꜜtsu͍̥ko u͍ꜜtɕida], DBE (内田光子), born 20 December 1948) is a classical pianist and conductor, born in Japan and naturalised in Britain, particularly noted for her interpretations of Mozart and Schubert. She has appeared with many notable orchestras, recorded a wide repertory with several labels, won numerous awards and honours (including Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2009), and has since 2013 been Artistic Director of the Marlboro Music School and Festival, the only musician to be its sole Artistic Director since co-founder Rudolf Serkin.She has also conducted several major orchestras.

Profile

Mitsuko Uchida

Movies

Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5 - Uchida, Rattle
Piano
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.
Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 13 KV 415 · No. 20 KV 466
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
Zubin Mehta & Mitsuko Uchida
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.
MARISS JANSONS CONDUCTS - BEETHOVEN & STRAUSS
Piano