Uchida’s Schumann.
Her father was the Japanese ambassador to Austria; and Mitsuko at age 12 had the opportunity to study music in Vienna.
Many years later, Pianist Mitsuko Uchida has established herself as an outstanding interpreter of the classical Viennese school. Her versions of Mozart, Beethoven and especially Schubert stand as truly landmarks in the recorded catalogue of recent times, and they compete equally with legendary interpreters such as Alfred Brendel and Radu Lupu.
This recording was made in the summer of 2013, and it shows us her mature artistry.
Schumann’s “Waldszenen” is about scenes from the forest. The composer gives us his concrete impressions and feelings, fears and jubilations, delicacy and force. And Mitsuko Uchida delivers all of this in a fine pianistic style.
The Schumann Piano Sonata Number 2 is also impressive because of its intimacy and deeply felt interpretation.
Here is Mitsuko Uchida performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 4 in G major, Op 58:
And on this next video, Ms. Uchida performs the Schumann Piano Concerto with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker:
Tags: Mitsuko Uchida, Schumann piano works, sonata number 2, Waldszenen