Mitsuko Uchida was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire back in June, but it seems there was a formal ceremony on Thursday.

I am a fairly new fan of Uchida. I heard her perform Beethoven's 4th several years ago (what a phenomenal interpretation of that amazing cadenza!) but only in 2007 picked up her release of Beethoven's 28th and 29th piano sonatas. I've been a major fan since, and my Uchida collection has steadily grown. Yes, her fashion statements and "theatrics" during performance often seem bizarre, and she even seems ready for a literal "face-off" against Lang Lang at times, but I always believe that the music is what matters in the end. Whether Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, or Debussy, she does it all superbly. Before really listening to her interpretations, I must say I had an impression that she would be a traditional and unexciting performer (I have no idea why) but I am always amazed at how exciting her interpretations are (listen to her attack the 1st movement of the Hammerklavier!)

Does such a title mean anything in the end? Who cares? Congratulations to her for her extraordinary accomplishments, and also a great thank you for her contributions to classical music.

I wonder how far away Stephen Hough is from such an honor...

Daniel

What a wonderful achievement for Dame Uchida. I really love her Schubert. I think her recordings are sublime. I wish her all the best now that she is a member of the British Establishment! I hope they gave her a rousing reception.

M

There was a wonderful article last June in the New Yorker all about the Marlboro Music retreat, directed these days by Richard Goode and Mitsuko Uchida. The article had some interesting views into her musical philosophy, her character, and her sense of humor. (If you're a subscriber, you can read it online for free.) She comes off as a woman with great personal and artistic integrity.

-Jason

Big difference in the "theatrics". LL is fake and Uchida is real. Also, I've seen her many times and never even noticed her facial expressions. I think that is because she may have increased them lately or many Youtube videos have close ups that are not seen by the audience.

She is an extremely intense performer who in my experience always plays a lengthy and serious work(e.g. Schubert D major Sonata, Schumannn Davidsbundler, Beethoven Op.111) at the end of her concert. Not all pianists can pull a concert like this off, but I think she does so admirably.

<sigh> I've already defended Lang Lang before ( here and here); not from any vested interest, but just because I like his playing. I don't want to start an argument or try to convince a reader of anything here-- I just request that categorical statements of how terrible he is not be stated or treated as fact, but as strongly-held, maybe even somewhat controversial, personal opinion, akin to, say, "Rachmaninoff is garbage."

Please?


-Jason