Paul Lewis

Pianist Paul Lewis

Paul Lewis has every right to be considered one of the finest British pianists of this era.  A prize winner at the 1994 World Piano Competition in London and a student of Alfred Brendel, he first received worldwide acclaim for his recording of the complete Beethoven sonatas for Harmonia Mundi from 2005 to 2007, which also won Gramophone awards.  He then followed this up with recordings of Schubert sonatas of the highest distinction.  Recently, he has recorded Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and has begun to establish himself in chamber music and lieder collaborations.  He is currently undertaking an extended tour playing Beethoven again, this time featuring the last three sonatas.  Before arriving in Vancouver, I was able to talk to the pianist about his past and present Beethoven exploits, and how he might like to proceed in the future, especially with respect to repertoire.

Paul Lewis has a particularly strong attachment to the Vancouver Recital Society, having made his debut for the VRS in 2000.  He played the complete Beethoven sonatas in Vancouver about the same time as his recordings, and had the distinction of choosing the society’s new Steinway in 2008.  In recent years, he has given splendid recitals involving Schumann, Liszt, Mozart, and the last three sonatas of Schubert.  His Beethoven recital in May 2015 is his second of the current season, following his collaboration last fall with the Vertavo Quartet in Mozart and Dvorak.