1972 Leonard Bernstein/VPO - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Vid 1. Ode to Joy - Instrumental, Baritone solo, Ode to Joy - Choral
Vid 2. Tenor solo, Instrumental passage, Ode to Joy 1st verse - Choral, second "Church" theme
Vid 3. Contrapuntal union of Ode to Joy and "Church" theme, set of lyrical cadenzas, prestissimo finale

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466
Camerata Salzburg
Conductor & Soloist: Mitsuko Uchida
recorded: Salzburg, Mozarteum, 2-4 March 2001

Two and a half centuries after Mozart's birth, Mitsuko Uchida comes as close as any pianist, of the present or the past, to giving his music a quality of contemporaneity, without recourse to exaggeration of any kind, without a hint of "historicity." There is no pedantry in her playing, no self-conscious didacticism, no straight imitation of 18th century practices. She is, however, musicologically highly informed, and characteristically complements this knowledge with practical experience.

The guiding spirit of Uchida's performing ethos is one of generosity and community - a sharing of the joy and privilege of great music, both with her collaborators and with her audiences. As she puts it: "All great art is related to being a human being and demonstrates how wonderful it is to be alive."

As a conductor, Uchida is unconventional and independent-minded. While scrupulously observant of Mozart's markings, she is fully aware that the notation and rhythmic indications in the score are only a starting point. The two ideals of performing most emphasized by Mozart were "taste" and "feeling." Uchida keeps them in perfect proportion.

- Jeremy Siepman