News Release
Mitsuko Uchida performs recital on
Valentine’s Day at Severance Hall
Program features solo piano works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Schumann
Recital is centerpiece of “A Night of Romance” Gala
Release date: January 21, 2011
Monday, February 14
Mitsuko Uchida
Photo by Richard Avedon
Mitsuko Uchida will perform a recital in Severance Hall on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14, at 7 p.m., featuring romantic masterworks for solo piano. The program consists of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in E minor, Opus 90, Schumann’s Davidsbündlertänze, Opus 6, and two works by Chopin: Prelude in C-sharp minor, Opus 45, and Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Opus 58. Admission is available as concert tickets only, or, with added benefits, as a special gala evening (see below).
Mitsuko Uchida, called by the Chicago Tribune “an elegant, deeply musical interpreter who strikes an inspired balance of head and heart in everything she plays,” made her debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in February 1990. Since that time, she has performed with the Orchestra at Severance Hall, at the Blossom Festival, and on tour in Europe and Japan.
Most recently, Ms. Uchida appeared with the Orchestra in Japan in November 2010, including sold-out concerts in Tokyo. She appeared as soloist in four Mozart concertos, conducting from the keyboard, and also in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst. A tour report from WKSU (89.7 FM) was titled “Pianist Mitsuko Uchida achieves rockstar status in Japan.”
Ms. Uchida served as the Orchestra’s first Artist-in-Residence for five seasons, from 2002 to 2007, during which time she performed a cycle of the Mozart concertos, conducting from the keyboard. Since then, she has made two recordings of Mozart piano concertos with the Orchestra, released on the Decca label in 2009 and 2010. The first recording, of Piano Concertos Nos. 23 and 24, is nominated for a Grammy Award this year. The new recording, of Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 27, was released in Japan in November and is due to be released in the U.S. this month. Ms. Uchida’s recording of Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto with Pierre Boulez and The Cleveland Orchestra won four awards in 2001, including one from Gramophone for best concerto recording.
Ms. Uchida’s newest Decca recording, Schumann’s Fantasie and the Davidsbündlertänze, was named CD of the Week by the Sunday Times of London, which commented: “[In the Davidsbündlertänze,] Uchida captures the split personality without exaggerating the different moods and humours with which Schumann imparts his two characters. Her limpid touch and inwardness in the Eusebius pieces are of spellbinding beauty … and her Florestan flourishes are not merely excuses for virtuosic flamboyance: she always hears the music in Schumann’s bravura. …Schumann the poet and virtuoso evoked in perfect balance.” The Schumann recording is available for purchase at the Cleveland Orchestra Store, along with Ms. Uchida’s recordings with The Cleveland Orchestra.
“A NIGHT FOR ROMANCE” GALA BENEFIT
A gala evening, titled “A Night for Romance,” surrounds this recital. Gala patrons are able to purchase a package that includes premier seating in a box or onstage, along with a post-concert dinner reception featuring Ms. Uchida as the guest of honor. Cocktail attire (with a touch of red) is suggested. All gala proceeds will benefit Cleveland Orchestra Artistic Initiatives through a sustaining fund for pianos at Severance Hall. Single ticket prices start at $350. For more information, contact Emily Szy at eszy@clevelandorchestra.com or 216-231-7524.
“A Night for Romance” gala schedule –
- 6:00 p.m.: Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres in Bogomolny-Kozerefski Grand Foyer
- 7:00 p.m.: Recital in Severance Hall
- Dinner Party immediately following, Box Promenade and Founders Gallery
SELECT YOUR OWN SEATS
Severance Hall patrons can select their own seats online. Clicking on any “Buy Ticket” button on the calendar will link to the Ticket Reservations page. This ticket ordering page automatically displays the “Select Your Own Seat” option (if applicable). Patrons may alternatively select the “Choose Best Available” option.
PRINT-AT-HOME TICKETS
Severance Hall patrons have the option of printing their tickets at home. Choose the “Print-at-Home” option on the Delivery Method page during online checkout.
The Lead Sponsor for this recital is Quality Electrodynamics (QED).
Ticket and Parking Information
Recital-Only Ticket Prices: Orchestra and Dress Circle: $36
“A Night for Romance” Gala Benefit Information: Single ticket prices start at $350. Contact Emily Szy at eszy@clevelandorchestra.com or 216-231-7524.
Friday Morning Ticket Prices: Orchestra: $45, $35; Dress Circle: $55, $35; Balcony: $45, $35, $25.
Ticket Office: The Severance Hall Ticket Office is located in the Smith Lobby. The entrance and 15-minute Ticket Service parking are along East Boulevard. The Ticket Office is open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and holidays, except for those days with performances, when the Ticket Office opens 3 hours before concert start time.
Group Sales (groups of 10 or more): Call the Cleveland Orchestra Group Sales Office at Severance Hall at 216-231-7463 or email groupsales@clevelandorchestra.com for information.
Parking: For information about parking for Severance Hall concerts, click here.
Venue information: Severance Hall, which opened in 1931 as the home of The Cleveland Orchestra, is located at 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Calendar Listing
Monday, February 14, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
Mitsuko Uchida, piano
Mitsuko Uchida in Recital
Beethoven: Sonata in E minor, Opus 90
Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Opus 6
Chopin: Prelude in C-sharp minor, Opus 45
Chopin: Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Opus 58
Recital-only Tickets: $36
To order recital-only tickets: Call 216-231-1111, 800-686-1141,
or online to select your own seats and print your tickets at home
“A Night for Romance” Gala Benefit information: Single ticket prices start at $350.
Contact Emily Szy at eszy@clevelandorchestra.com or 216-231-7524.
Location: Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland
All artists and programs are subject to change.
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Press Contacts
Jennifer Schlosser, 216-231-7518; Email: jschlosser@clevelandorchestra.com
Ana Papakhian, Office: 216-231-7476; Cell phone: 216-370-2595; Email: anap@clevelandorchestra.com