When Oxford University awarded Dame Mitsuko Uchida an honorary doctorate in 2009 she offered to give a recital for the benefit of the Faculty of Music. Tuesday night’s concert at the Sheldonian was the result — and what an amazing treat. After hearing playing like this it seems presumptuous to write anything. What can I say that could possibly convey the experience of hearing this exemplary artist? I now know how Ulysses must have felt when he heard the sirens singing.

The concert opened with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90. Uchida played with all the expressiveness and control one would expect. The argument between ‘head’ and ‘heart’ in the first movement was handled with great subtlety. The second movement with its life-affirming main theme was full of tenderness.

With Schumann’s Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 the intensity seemed to ratchet up. I don’t think I have ever heard Schumann played so convincingly or movingly. In the hands of lesser mortals this music can seem impenetrable, but Uchida achieved an extraordinary clarity, paying attention to every nuance and shift of mood. The contrasts between the ebullient ‘Florestan’ movements and the more reflective ‘Eusebius’ pieces were superbly cast. The music seemed as fresh and shocking in its novelty as Schumann intended. The penultimate movement was spellbinding. I could have gone on listening to her forever. Her recording of the Davidsbündlertänze and Schumann Fantasie was released last year on Decca. This is surely a must for anyone’s collection.

Chopin was the composer featured in the second half. First his Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 45; performed with wonderful delicacy and feeling. This led immediately into the Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58. The four movements followed close upon each other, giving the piece a strong sense of coherence and continuity. The ‘nocturne’-like third movement, the most profound of the four, was mesmerising. The attention given to the shifting harmonies was exquisite.

Uchida creates performances of extraordinary beauty. You can hear this in her recordings but it’s even better live. The Sheldonian is not an easy venue but she filled the space with sound even in the most delicate passages. She has a wonderfully modest and unassuming presence. It was clear from this performance that she is one of the greatest pianists working in the world today. Uchida has a long-standing commitment to aiding the development of young musicians. Proceeds from the concert, estimated at around £25,000, are being used to buy new practice pianos for the Music Faculty.

Prof Eric Clarke, Oxford University’s Heather Professor of Music, said: “We are extremely grateful to Dame Mitsuko for her extraordinary and inspiring recital, and for the support for the Faculty of Music that it represents — both financially, and in terms of her commitment to our cause. The breadth, scope and quality of music scholarship, composition and performance at Oxford is unrivalled, and Dame Mitsuko’s recital has not only raised immediate funds for the Faculty’s continuing work but has also launched the ambitious campaign to ensure that Oxford’s world-leading reputation for research and teaching in music is sustained and developed far into the future.”