Mitsuko Uchida

About

Considered one of the greatest classical pianists of her day. She was the co-director of the Marlboro Music School and Festival.

Before Fame

She was awarded the first prize at the 1969 Beethoven Competition in Vienna, the second prize at the 1970 International Chopin Piano Competition, and the second prize at the 1975 Leeds Piano Competition.

Trivia

She became known for her interpretations of such composers as Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Mozart, Schubert, and Schoenberg.

Family Life

She was born in Atami, outside of Tokyo, but her father was appointed the Japanese Ambassador to Austria when she was 12, and her family moved to Vienna.

Associated With

She recorded all of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 's piano sonatas and concerti, winning a Gramophone Award for the sonatas project.