Search - Mozart: Piano Concertos 13 & 20/"I Played Bach When I Was 7" (documentary) on DVD

Two Mozart piano concertos superbly performed

Mike Birman | Brooklyn, New York USA | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mitsuko Uchida made her reputation playing Mozart's sonatas and piano concertos. Although she has broadened her palette significantly, it is still Mozart with whom she is most closely identified. This fine DVD presents her playing (and conducting from the piano) two concertos: No.13 in C major K.415 and No.20 in D minor K.466. The performances feature the Camerata Salzburg and were recorded live in the Salzburg Mozarteum 2-4 March 2001. They are lovely, lyrical performances. The smaller forces of the Camerata allow for extreme clarity in the inner voices, offering an unusually nuanced Mozart. There is a deceptive simplicity to No.13, befitting Mozart's stated intentions (in a letter to his Father) when he composed the trio of concertos Nos.11-13: the first he composed in Vienna after arriving there in 1781. He designed them to be enjoyed by the uninitiated (though they knew not why) as well as by connoisseurs (presumably knowing exactly why). Typical Mozartean ambiguity.

Uchida provides a fresh, lilting quality to No.13. She switches gears for the D minor concerto: offering a dark, dramatic, even brooding reading of this perennial favorite. The Camerata woodwinds play superbly. Uchida conducts with leisurely grace and quite expansively, allowing all the instrumentalists their moments to shine. I replayed this concerto immediately. Those of you who find Uchida's inevitable facial expressions distracting, even disconcerting (I am one who does), will be pleased to know that she tones them down somewhat. And as the conductor, she beams them at the orchestra, who appear to be smiling affectionately (albeit enigmatically) throughout their performance. This DVD, although slightly abbreviated in length, is quite good and is definitely a worthwhile investment for those who love Mozart's piano concertos.

The picture format is NTSC, shot full screen in color with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The picture is crystal clear. The region code is 0 worldwide. Sound formats are PCM stereo and DTS 5.1 Digital Surround. Both are superbly clear and well focused with the DTS providing a greater sense of space and nice ambiance from the rear speakers. The menus are in English. Subtitles (for the Bonus film which is in German) are in English, French, Spanish and Chineses. The Bonus film is a 20 minute monologue by Uchida on music, especially the great Germanic composers. Total time of this disc is 92 minutes. The booklet contains an hagiographic essay, extolling Uchida's virtues as an artist. It is a tad over-the-top.

Mozart played superbly makes this disc worthy of serious consideration. Strongly recommended.

Mike Birman"

Wonderful Playing and Sound

Paul S. Rottenberg | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 12/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Uchida is one of our finest pianists and one of our best Mozartians. Both performances are splendid and are given excellent sound by DG. I just wish they'd included some more music as an encore to the two main concerto perfomances, though Uchida's talk "I Played Bach" is interesting. It's perhaps even more interesting that Uchida, born in Japan, but nurtured in Vienna from age 12, speaks faultless German in this extra feature. It supports the idea of music as the international language transcending all cultural boundaries. These two performances certainly do."

The best concerto (no.20) played by the best Mozart pianist

Gabor Koves | 05/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I rate the Mozart D-minor the best piano concerto. Seeing Uchida playing and directing is a magnificent experience!"

Great DVD - Strange Woman

A. Roth | Baltimore, MD | 01/22/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First the good: The sound, picture and clarity of these performances is great. - In fact, the only distraction here is Uchida's "interesting" way of conducting. She clearly "feels" the music- and more power to her for that, but her off facial contortions are very distracting. I found DVD's of Karajan to be similar.
I like professional conductors who do not feel the need to dance on screen... still, this is an opulent production well worth owning."