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Mitsuko Uchida

Beethoven - Diabelli Variations

Decca Classics
Release Date: April 8, 2022

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1 Tema. Vivace 00:53  
2 Var. 1. Alla marcia maestoso 01:58  
3 Var. 2. Poco allegro 01:01  
4 Var. 3. L'istesso tempo 01:27  
5 Var. 4. Un poco più vivace 01:04  
6 Var. 5. Allegro vivace 01:01  
7 Var. 6. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso 01:43  
8 Var. 7. Un poco più allegro 01:20  
9 Var. 8. Poco vivace 01:34  
10 Var. 9. Allegro pesante e risoluto 02:16  
11 Var. 10. Presto 00:44  
12 Var. 11. Allegretto 01:13  
13 Var. 12. Un poco più moto 01:00  
14 Var. 13. Vivace 01:16  
15 Var. 14. Grave e maestoso 03:57  
16 Var. 15. Presto scherzando 00:40  
17 Var. 16. Allegro 01:01  
18 Var. 17. Allegro 01:03  
19 Var. 18. Poco moderato 02:02  
20 Var. 19. Presto 00:56  
21 Var. 20. Andante 02:38  
22 Var. 21. Allegro con brio - Meno allegro 01:20  
23 Var. 22. Allegro molto, alla "Notte e giorno faticar" di Mozart 00:51  
24 Var. 23. Allegro assai 00:59  
25 Var. 24. Fughetta. Andante 03:15  
26 Var. 25. Allegro 00:48  
27 Var. 26. Piacevole 01:21  
28 Var. 27. Vivace 01:02  
29 Var. 28. Allegro 01:02  
30 Var. 29. Adagio ma non troppo 01:26  
31 Var. 30. Andante, sempre cantabile 02:33  
32 Var. 31. Largo, molto espressivo 05:12  
33 Var. 32. Fugue. Allegro 03:19  
34 Var. 33. Tempo di Minuetto moderato 04:57  
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Decca Classics is proud to release Mitsuko Uchida’s new recording of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Among the most celebrated living interpreters of the music of the Classical period, Uchida captures on disc her interpretation of one of the greatest works in the piano repertoire.  
 
Uchida’s live performances of the Diabelli Variations have been praised as “mesmerizing” by The Guardian, “dazzling” by The Arts Desk and “compelling to the end” by the New York Times. The new recording of the work was made at Snape Maltings in Suffolk, a concert hall with which Uchida feels a strong affinity.  
 
Mitsuko Uchida, DBE, has recorded exclusively on Decca Classics and Philips across four decades. Her acclaimed discography, which includes the complete Mozart and Schubert piano sonatas, has earned her two Grammy Awards, a Gramophone Award and two BBC Music Magazine Awards. She is regarded as a peerless interpreter of the music of the First and Second Viennese Schools. 
 
Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations stand alongside Bach’s Goldberg Variations as the pinnacle of the variation form. In 1819, the dilettante composer and publisher Antonio Diabelli commissioned around 50 of the leading composers in Vienna (including Franz Schubert) to compose variations on a theme he had written. Among them, Beethoven was at first dismayed by the quality of the theme (describing it as a “cobbler’s patch”) and scathing of such collaborative models of work. Yet, working intermittently on the set for six years, Beethoven was able to transform the mundane theme into one of the most sublime pieces of piano music ever written. 
 
Mitsuko Uchida’s Beethoven – Diabelli Variations is out now on Decca Classics.

  • Mitsuko Uchida reflects on year 2 of her 3-year Carnegie Hall residency / PLAYBILL
    Posted At: March 14, 2024
    Mitsuko Uchida is a performer who brings deep insight into the music she plays through her own search for truth and beauty. She is renowned for her interpretations of Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven, both in the concert hall and on recordings, but she has also illuminated the music of Berg, Schoenberg, Webern and Boulez for a new generation of listeners.Uchida was born in Atami, near Tokyo and moved to Vienn...

  • Mitsuko Uchida's 'Diabelli Variations' was worth the wait / LIMELIGHT
    Posted At: May 5, 2022
    Decca Classics recently released Mitsuko Uchida’s new recording of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Among the most celebrated living interpreters of the music of the Classical period, Uchida captures on disc her interpretation of one of the greatest works in the piano repertoire.   Uchida’s live performances of the Diabelli Variations have been praised as “mesmerizing” by The Guardian, “dazzling” ...

  • Mitsuko Uchida's new 'Diabelli Variations' gives us a view of Beethovens multifaceted perspective / THE CLASSIC REVIEW
    Posted At: April 29, 2022
    Decca Classics is proud to release Mitsuko Uchida’s new recording of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Among the most celebrated living interpreters of the music of the Classical period, Uchida captures on disc her interpretation of one of the greatest works in the piano repertoire.   Uchida’s live performances of the Diabelli Variations have been praised as “mesmerizing” by The Guardian, “dazzling...

  • Mitsuko Uchida plays Mozart and Schubert on next WFMT: CSO bcast
    Posted At: August 11, 2018

    The Chicago Symphony presents the full range of orchestral works under the seasoned baton of music director Riccardo Muti. The top tier soloists and guest conductors complete the series with artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Matthias Goerne, and Daniil Trifonov; as well as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mitsuko Uchida, and Bernard Haitink. Hosted by Lisa Simeone, the two-hour Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the CSO Radio Broadcast...

  • Only joy transmitted spectacularly, in LA Phil 'Schumann Focus' with Dudamel and Uchida / LA Observed
    Posted At: June 4, 2018

    Only joy was transmitted -- spectacularly -- during the LA Philharmonic's "Schumann Focus" at Disney Hall. A huge chunk of it animated by Gustavo Dudamel and Mitsuko Uchida. What was this we wondered. What connected our resident podium-meister to this revered pianist, one who has wedded music to her soul like few others. What was this new-found love fest? And on their very first outing together? ...

  • Uchida and the CSO under Salonen is astonishing in Bartok Piano Concerto No. 3 / WTTW: Chicago Tonight
    Posted At: May 29, 2018

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  • When two of the world's finest Schumann interpreters get together, magic is bound to happen / BLOUIN ARTINFO
    Posted At: May 11, 2018

    When two of the world's finest Schumann interpreters get together musical magic is bound to happen. Gustavo Dudamel and Mitsuko Uchida launch the "Schumann Focus," with the German master's beloved Piano Concerto, while Dudamel leads his eclectic "Spring" Symphony. Although Schumann had a troubled life that ended prematurely in insanity, the man did compose music that lifts our spirits  by its sh...

  • Cleveland Orch. | Mitsuko Uchida - Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 17 (K453) & 25 (K503), / WFMT: 'Featured Release'
    Posted At: November 6, 2016

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  • Leon Fleisher & festival AD - Mitsuko Uchida close 66th Marlboro / Barre Montpelier Times Argus
    Posted At: August 16, 2016

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  • Mitsuko Uchida - Mozart Piano Concertos / WCLV October Choice CD
    Posted At: October 1, 2014

    Each month, WCLV - Cleveland Program Director Bill O'Connell selects a series of special CDs to be featured on the air throughout the month. For his October list, Bill has selected . Here are the highlighted tracks and airdates Bill has chosen and a few of his comments from about why this disc is a standout. Here's Classic FM's headline in August: "One of the greatest pianists o...

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    Posted At: September 22, 2014

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  • Mitsuko Uchida returns to BBC Proms / The Guardian interview
    Posted At: August 3, 2014

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  • Mitsuko Uchida: Schumann / New York Times review
    Posted At: November 10, 2013

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