PIANO RECITALS : MITSUKO UCHIDA IN MEDAL SERIES

The appearance of highly polished technique on Ambassador Auditorium’s Gold Medal Series talent parade is now expected. One of the happier surprises of the series, however, is how often such skill supports a strong, multifaceted musical personality.

Born in Japan, pianist Mitsuko Uchida was moved to Vienna when she was 12. Monday evening, she relied on two Viennese composers of very different temperaments for most of her recital.

Uchida seems to feel a special affinity for Mozart, having already performed the complete cycle of his sonatas twice. Her way with the exceptional Sonata in D, K. 284--not the one listed on the program--was assured, articulate and purposeful. In the process, much of the dynamic and ornamental quirkiness of the second movement was ironed out, but she achieved a remarkable integration of the finale variations.

In Schubert’s Sonata in G, D. 894, Uchida left no poetic stone unturned. She produced a gossamer touch of perfect balance in the opening movement, although her instrument let her down with a lack of treble resonance. She revealed the steel in the Andante, and danced blithely through the last movements.

Uchida began with Bach’s Second “English” Suite and ended--in encore--with a Scarlatti sonata. She made no special effort toward stylistic authenticity or a pseudo-harpsichord sound, but captured the character of each movement with touch and phrasing, invigorated by a stunning combination of speed and clarity.