Queen's Birthday Honours List has just been released:
Quote, while pianist Mitsuko Uchida becomes a Dame.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8097237.stm
Congratulations to her. :)
Quote from: Aeolian harp on June 12, 2009, 04:38:45 PM
Queen's Birthday Honours List has just been released:
Congratulations to her. :)
Recommend a few of Mitsuko Uchida's signature recordings please. She is a total unknown to me.
As Rodgers and Hammerstein have noted;
"There is NOTHING like a dame."
So she joins the ranks of other noted dames like Edna and Cook?
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 08:30:19 AM
Recommend a few of Mitsuko Uchida's signature recordings please. She is a total unknown to me.
Any suggestions?
Her Schubert, Mozart and Debussy solo piano dics on Decca in general are very good.
Quote from: erato on June 13, 2009, 09:13:38 AM
Her Schubert, Mozart and Debussy solo piano dics on Decca in general are very good.
I would think she has to be a piano virtuoso to be given the title Dame ...
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 09:16:20 AM
I would think she has to be a piano virtuoso to be given the title Dame ...
Well, some years ago our beloved Emma Kirkby was honored with the same title. BTW, Uchida is excellent, you can see some of her performances on You Tube; I recommend you, for instance, Mozart's Piano Concerto N°9: :)
http://www.youtube.com/v/hIkk3IPuoOU
Quote from: Antoine Marchand on June 13, 2009, 09:40:13 AM
Well, some years ago our beloved Emma Kirkby was honored with the same title. BTW, Uchida is excellent, you can see some of her performances on You Tube; I recommend you, for instance, Mozart's Piano Concerto N°9: :)
http://www.youtube.com/v/hIkk3IPuoOU
Thanks for the link. I may check out her Beethoven Piano Sonatas since I much prefer Beethoven over Mozart ...
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 09:43:36 AM
Thanks for the link. I may check out her Beethoven Piano Sonatas since I much prefer Beethoven over Mozart ...
Please, Coop, check that link out and then tell me. ;)
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 08:30:19 AM
Recommend a few of Mitsuko Uchida's signature recordings please. She is a total unknown to me.
Well, she made her name playing the complete Mozart piano sonatas at a time when that was still quite unusual. Her recorded cycle of those on Phillips are considered by many a benchmark.
Also her Debussy etudes (also on Phillips) were also very well received.
A lot of people like her Schubert as well.
Her cycle of the Mozart concertos with Tate are a bit hit & miss. I recommend in particular her no.20, 22 and no.23.
Her Beethoven is worth a listen but most people will prefer others over her for that composer. Interestingly although she is now best known as a Mozartian, I think the first major competition she won was in Beethoven, at the Beethoven Competition in Vienna.
Quote from: Aeolian harp on June 13, 2009, 11:38:14 AM
Her cycle of the Mozart concertos with Tate are a bit hit & miss. I recommend in particular her no.20, 22 and no.23.
Although your opinion is totally respectable doesn't seem to be unanimous:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000415Z/ionarts-20
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-Box-Set/dp/B000DZ6VAK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1244922915&sr=8-7
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-MITSUKO-UCHIDA/dp/B000DZ6VAK
Just saw her interviewed on the news. She seemed a very gracious lady - genuinely surprised and delighted with her honour.
Quote from: Antoine Marchand on June 13, 2009, 12:24:01 PM
Although your opinion is totally respectable doesn't seem to be unanimous:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000415Z/ionarts-20
http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-Box-Set/dp/B000DZ6VAK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1244922915&sr=8-7
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-MITSUKO-UCHIDA/dp/B000DZ6VAK
Well, it's all subjective of course and everyone's opinion is equally valid. :)
I simply find some of her playing in the concertos a little over-precious. But that's just me.
Oh, just want to point out that Brendel, who also lives in London, got his knighthood 20 years ago. Perahia also was conferred a knighthood some years ago.
I think theirs were honorary because they are not British citizens, so they don't use the title Sir Alfred or Sir Murray... although I do think they have a nice ring to them. :D
Quote from: Aeolian harp on June 13, 2009, 01:55:11 PM
Oh, just want to point out that Brendel, who also lives in London, got his knighthood 20 years ago. Perahia also was conferred a knighthood some years ago.
I think theirs were honorary because they are not British citizens, so they don't use the title Sir Alfred or Sir Murray... although I do think they have a nice ring to them. :D
Two of our ex-presidents were also knighted by the Queen. Reagan and Bush Sr.
Quote from: Aeolian harp on June 13, 2009, 11:38:14 AM
Well, she made her name playing the complete Mozart piano sonatas at a time when that was still quite unusual. Her recorded cycle of those on Phillips are considered by many a benchmark.
Also her Debussy etudes (also on Phillips) were also very well received.
Sorry I said Decca. Of course you're right.
Quote from: Antoine Marchand on June 13, 2009, 12:24:01 PM
Although your opinion is totally respectable doesn't seem to be unanimous:
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. As for her new title, it means nothing to me.
Quote from: erato on June 13, 2009, 02:16:24 PM
Sorry I said Decca. Of course you're right.
Well, they are all part of the giant Universal group...
In fact, Phillips got merged into Decca, so actually you're right too! lol
:D
Quote from: Bulldog on June 13, 2009, 02:39:06 PM
When you find a unanimous opinion about a performing artist, please let me know (I'd be stunned).
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. ???
Quote from: Antoine Marchand on June 13, 2009, 03:15:12 PM
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. :)
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 08:30:19 AM
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.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T7JP8D8PL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Debussy, Etudes
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000E8N7Q2/goodmusicguide-20)
WOW.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EY6N8QEDL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schoenberg, Piano Concerto (plus Webern pieces & Berg Sonata op.1)
Mitsuko Uchida / Boulez / Cleveland Orchestra
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000058BGZ/goodmusicguide-20)
No one does more to elucidate the romance of 12 tone music. Far and away the best recording of the Piano Concerto.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YFEXHBR5L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Mozart, Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin
Mitsuko Uchida / Steinberg
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007KTAXQ/goodmusicguide-20)
This might surprise, so far up, but it's miraculously good... and not the least for Uchida.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41B991MT1CL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Mozart, Keyboard Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005QDYG/goodmusicguide-20)
She's made her name with Mozart. This shows why and how. My favorite set next to the (very different) De Larrocha.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBFEDC0QL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schubert, Die schoene Muellerin
Mitsuko Uchida / Ian Bostridge
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006Z1ZPI/goodmusicguide-20)
More for her than him, but a sad little tenor works well in die Muellerin, actually... much more so than in Die Winterreise.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Q0APP8RGL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Beethoven, opp.109, 110, 111
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EAV6BS/goodmusicguide-20)
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.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21fkH-UR6EL._SL500_AA180_.jpg)
Mozart, Piano Concertos
Mitsuko Uchida / Tate / ECO
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000DZ6VAK/goodmusicguide-20)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41LH30xSyEL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schubert, Complete Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000654OUG/goodmusicguide-20)
No complete set of these is perfect, but in many ways I find hers preferable to others I have (Brendel, certainly; Kempff, possibly.)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NB309M6SL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000KQGOD6/goodmusicguide-20)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C8qnnLVEL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida / Sanderling / Concertgebouw
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0009A41WE/goodmusicguide-20)
I really like the unfussy, understated reading of these concertos.
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.
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.
Quote from: jlaurson on June 14, 2009, 01:31:21 AM
For shame. :-)
Here we go:
Roughly in order of importance as I perceive it.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T7JP8D8PL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Debussy, Etudes
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000E8N7Q2/goodmusicguide-20)
WOW.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EY6N8QEDL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schoenberg, Piano Concerto (plus Webern pieces & Berg Sonata op.1)
Mitsuko Uchida / Boulez / Cleveland Orchestra
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000058BGZ/goodmusicguide-20)
No one does more to elucidate the romance of 12 tone music. Far and away the best recording of the Piano Concerto.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YFEXHBR5L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Mozart, Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin
Mitsuko Uchida / Steinberg
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007KTAXQ/goodmusicguide-20)
This might surprise, so far up, but it's miraculously good... and not the least for Uchida.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41B991MT1CL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Mozart, Keyboard Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005QDYG/goodmusicguide-20)
She's made her name with Mozart. This shows why and how. My favorite set next to the (very different) De Larrocha.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBFEDC0QL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schubert, Die schoene Muellerin
Mitsuko Uchida / Ian Bostridge
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006Z1ZPI/goodmusicguide-20)
More for her than him, but a sad little tenor works well in die Muellerin, actually... much more so than in Die Winterreise.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Q0APP8RGL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Beethoven, opp.109, 110, 111
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EAV6BS/goodmusicguide-20)
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.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21fkH-UR6EL._SL500_AA180_.jpg)
Mozart, Piano Concertos
Mitsuko Uchida / Tate / ECO
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000DZ6VAK/goodmusicguide-20)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41LH30xSyEL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schubert, Complete Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000654OUG/goodmusicguide-20)
No complete set of these is perfect, but in many ways I find hers preferable to others I have (Brendel, certainly; Kempff, possibly.)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NB309M6SL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000KQGOD6/goodmusicguide-20)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C8qnnLVEL._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Schumann, Carnaval, Kreisleriana
Mitsuko Uchida / Sanderling / Concertgebouw
Philips (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0009A41WE/goodmusicguide-20)
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 ...
Quote from: Valentino on June 14, 2009, 04:17:25 AM
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.
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.
Quote from: Bulldog on June 13, 2009, 02:39:06 PM
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.
Quote from: Coopmv on June 13, 2009, 09:43:36 AMThanks 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?
Quote from: Henritus on June 14, 2009, 03:08:43 PM
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? :P
Though I must say she can give LL a run for his money when it comes to facial expressions ;)