Decca Releases All-New Recording of Mitsuko Uchida Performing Schumann

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Uchida is, simply, Uchida – an elegant, deeply musical interpreter who strikes an inspired balance of head and heart in everything she plays – Chicago Tribune

More than fifteen years since her last recording of works by Schumann, Dame Mitsuko Uchida returns to the composer for her all-new recording, to be released on Decca on January 11, 2011. The recording, in a deluxe package prestige edition, features Davidsbündlertänze op.6 and Fantasie in C major, op.17 as well as a bonus disc of Uchida speaking with James Jolly about Schumann and demonstrating on the piano.

Mitsuko Uchida’s last recording of Schumann (on Philips and featuring Carnaval and Kreisleriana) was released just over 15 years ago and went on to receive considerable critical and popular acclaim. Returning to Schumann once again, Uchida records both works for the first time. Written after Schumann was reconnected with his beloved, Clara – whose father determined she should never marry him – the Davidsbündlertänze are at once an outpouring of Schumann’s feelings for her and a struggle between the two sides of the composer’s own musical nature. Fantasie is a deeply introspective soliloquy, beautifully reflected through the emotional complexity of Mitsuko Uchida's pianism.

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