(Mitsuko Uchida - far from nonchalant interpreter)

Mitsuko Uchida in concert performing Beethoven today - Piano Sonatas Nr. 30 and 31, recorded at the Champs Elysees Theatre in Paris on September 30, 2009 by Radio France Musique.

So many musicians the past several years have arrived on the scene as incredible technicians, but not much in the way of interpreters - all the notes are right and played in the right way, but the point of view seems to be missing. The thing that has always drawn me to music, particularly Classical and Jazz is the interpretation, that individual point of view on a piece of music you've heard thousands of times yet somehow makes it a whole new experience. I've always felt Mitsuko Uchida had both of those qualities - the technical brilliance and the gift of interpretation going hand in hand in her case.

And the extra bonus of hearing a performance live, without the safety net of retakes or editing, is especially rewarding.

So here we are on Hump-Day and what better excuse to dig into a little Beethoven this night than by way of a concert in Paris with Mitsuko Uchida.

Récital Mitsuko Uchida, Piano : Beethoven

Concert donné le 30 septembre 2009 au Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

Ludwig van Beethoven

Sonate N°30 en Mi Majeur Op.109

Sonate N°31 en La bémol Majeur Op.110

Mitsuko Uchida, piano

And because this concert comes directly from Paris, the announcements are in French - but there's not a whole lot of them (in case your French is rusty).