Arise, Dame Mitsuko

[Aeolian harp]

Well, that was trying to be a figure of speech, or a polite form in order to say that the opinion of the majority is different. Apparently, it didn't work out. 

I think it's quite hard to draw conclusions from Amazon reviews. People will tend to be motivated to post a review either because they either love it (more often than not) or they absolutely hate it.

That said, there are some excellent Amazon reviewers who give balanced comments.

But I must admit I haven't heard ALL of the Uchida/Tate Mozart concertos, & I probably am not in a position to give an overall opinion. So you could be right.

[jlaurson]

Recommend a few of Mitsuko Uchida's signature recordings please.  She is a total unknown to me.

For shame. :-)

Here we go:

Roughly in order of importance as I perceive it.



Debussy, Etudes
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
WOW.


Schoenberg, Piano Concerto (plus Webern pieces & Berg Sonata op.1)
Mitsuko Uchida / Boulez / Cleveland Orchestra
Philips
No one does more to elucidate the romance of 12 tone music. Far and away the best recording of the Piano Concerto.


Mozart, Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin
Mitsuko Uchida / Steinberg
Philips
This might surprise, so far up, but it's miraculously good... and not the least for Uchida.


Mozart, Keyboard Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
She's made her name with Mozart. This shows why and how. My favorite set next to the (very different) De Larrocha.


Schubert, Die schoene Muellerin
Mitsuko Uchida / Ian Bostridge
Philips
More for her than him, but a sad little tenor works well in die Muellerin, actually... much more so than in Die Winterreise.


Beethoven, opp.109, 110, 111
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
No fan at all of her op.106 (her other LvB Sonata disc to date), but I really like her opp. 109 and 110 (Debussyesque)-- and I find her 111 quite intriguing.


Mozart, Piano Concertos
Mitsuko Uchida / Tate / ECO
Philips


Schubert, Complete Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
No complete set of these is perfect, but in many ways I find hers preferable to others I have (Brendel, certainly; Kempff, possibly.)


Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips


Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida / Sanderling / Concertgebouw
Philips
I really like the unfussy, understated reading of these concertos.

[Gabriel]

Last year I attended a concert with her performing Mozart's KV 488 and 491. It was unforgettable (her playing is, in my opinion, very distinctive and I enjoy it very much).

I'm very glad she is receiving such distinguished honours.

[Valentino]

I've grown up with her Mozart sonatas. Very good, yes.
The eventuental trouble with the concertos is not her, but Tate, who should never have been allowed to conduct Mozart.
The disk she did with Boulez is superb.

[Coopmv]

For shame. :-)

Here we go:

Roughly in order of importance as I perceive it.



Debussy, Etudes
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
WOW.


Schoenberg, Piano Concerto (plus Webern pieces & Berg Sonata op.1)
Mitsuko Uchida / Boulez / Cleveland Orchestra
Philips
No one does more to elucidate the romance of 12 tone music. Far and away the best recording of the Piano Concerto.


Mozart, Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin
Mitsuko Uchida / Steinberg
Philips
This might surprise, so far up, but it's miraculously good... and not the least for Uchida.


Mozart, Keyboard Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
She's made her name with Mozart. This shows why and how. My favorite set next to the (very different) De Larrocha.


Schubert, Die schoene Muellerin
Mitsuko Uchida / Ian Bostridge
Philips
More for her than him, but a sad little tenor works well in die Muellerin, actually... much more so than in Die Winterreise.


Beethoven, opp.109, 110, 111
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
No fan at all of her op.106 (her other LvB Sonata disc to date), but I really like her opp. 109 and 110 (Debussyesque)-- and I find her 111 quite intriguing.


Mozart, Piano Concertos
Mitsuko Uchida / Tate / ECO
Philips


Schubert, Complete Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips
No complete set of these is perfect, but in many ways I find hers preferable to others I have (Brendel, certainly; Kempff, possibly.)


Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips


Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida / Sanderling / Concertgebouw
Philips
I really like the unfussy, understated reading of these concertos.

Thanks for the info.  So Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven piano works are where I should shop for her recordings ...

[Coopmv]

I've grown up with her Mozart sonatas. Very good, yes.
The eventuental trouble with the concertos is not her, but Tate, who should never have been allowed to conduct Mozart.
The disk she did with Boulez is superb.

Someone has told me some unsavory tale about Jeffrey Tate.  Well, I do not own any of his recordings.

[Henritus]

She used to be called "Miss Dragon Lady" in her 20s during one of those piano competitions. Dame certainly sounds a lot better, and represents her art better than the old nickname.

[DavidRoss]

When you find a unanimous opinion about a performing artist, please let me know (I'd be stunned).

Anyways, I find Uchida superb in Mozart and Debussy.

Word.  The only problem with her Mozart PC set is Tate's competent but uninspired direction of the orchestra.  Uchida's playing is terrific. 

Thanks for the link.  I may check out her Beethoven Piano Sonatas since I much prefer Beethoven over Mozart ...

Why, when you sought recommendations and were directed to her fine playing of Mozart, Debussy, and Schubert, would you then choose Beethoven to become acquainted with her?  Would you judge Gould by his Beethoven?  Hewitt by her Prokofiev? 

[Aeolian harp]

She used to be called "Miss Dragon Lady" in her 20s during one of those piano competitions. Dame certainly sounds a lot better, and represents her art better than the old nickname.

Did she play dragon songs? 

Though I must say she can give LL a run for his money when it comes to facial expressions