This month, in honor of her upcoming 71st birthday (born December 20, 1948), we have selected Japanese pianist and conductor Mitsuko Uchida.
Mitsuko Uchida is a pianist and conductor critically acclaimed for her interpretations of works by Mozart, Chopin, Schubert, Debussy, and the Second Viennese School. Her recordings of the Schoenberg Piano Concerto and all of Mozart’s piano sonatas each received Gramophone Awards. In addition, her recordings of two Mozart concerti as both conductor and pianist, and her work as an accompanist for vocalist Dorothea Roschmann received Grammy awards. She has been honored with the Gold Medal from the Royal Philharmonic Society, with previous recipients including Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, and Leonard Bernstein.
Born to diplomat parents, at twelve years old Uchida moved to Vienna, Austria and remained there for musical study even after her parents transferred back to Japan. She was catapulted to fame with her first prize win in the Beethoven Competition in Vienna as well as second prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition, both in the same year of 1970. She also received second prize in the Leeds Piano Competition in 1975. She continues to maintain an active concert career in addition to contributing her efforts to the Marlboro Music School and Festival and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust in order to serve future generations of aspiring musicians.
