A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Friday 9 August 2013

Mitsuko Uchida



The phenomenal Mitsuko Uchida played Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in London's Royal Albert Hall last night as part of the BBC Proms season. Here she is playing and conducting Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor with the Camerata Salzburg. I love this pianist, and her feeling for the music, with its perfect blend of precision and emotion.

10 comments:

Danish dog said...

Thanks for that, Robert! Wonderful phrasing and very expressive conducting too!

Ruth said...

Chills. I've never seen a pianist also conduct! Brilliant.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Since my hearing became rather fragmentary Robert, listening to music has not been easy.

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks for your comments, all three.

I'm sorry about your hearing, Pat.

And Ruth — she's brilliant, isn't she? Check out Barenboim and Ashkenazy, who also conduct from the keyboard.

Susan Scheid said...

She is marvelous, isn't she? I do remember one time seeing her at the keyboard with another conducting, and she was so totally engaged that she wasn't able to stop herself from conducting, too!

The Solitary Walker said...

I agree, Susan — I think she's utterly mesmerising.

Dominic Rivron said...

I heard this. Awesome.

I keep coming back to this video of her:

http://youtu.be/PmWRttCo7lo

Vagabonde said...

I did not know her and am so pleased that you showed this video – what a talent! I did not know another Mitsuko – about 6 weeks ago we obtained a little cat, a Korat (a breed from Thailand) and I called her “Mitsuko.” We had another korat who died last year. I had named her Mitsou, as a play on word – because I had found that in Thai Mit and su or vice versa meant friendly and pretty or something like that, then I also liked it because it is a title from Colette’s book. So, I wished to call this new cat a similar name and thought of Mitsuko which was my best friend’s mother favorite Guerlain perfume – but how wonderful to listen to a human Mitsuko!

More Than Meets the I said...

I had no idea she conducts as fabulously as she plays. Thank you, Robert. My favourite pianist conducting simultaneously is Krystian Zimerman. I keep coming back to his Beethoven
Concerto 1 in C major for inspiration ( next year I will be taking my diploma exam in piano and the allegro con brio is in my syllabus)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFfUcQQbwsE

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks for the link, MTMTI. And good luck with your piano studies.