Paul Lewis – at the Sohmen Concert Hall, Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities
We are most grateful to Professor Nick Couldry for his generous sponsorship of this concert.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata no.6 in D major K284
Felix Mendelssohn Variations sérieuses, Op.54
Interval
Aaron Copland Piano Variations (1930)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata no. 11 in A major K331
Internationally acclaimed for his Beethoven Cycle and for his Schubert Series, Paul Lewis now turns his attention to Mozart with a Mozart + world tour. In his own words:
“For many years I’ve wanted to spend some time focusing on Mozart’s piano sonatas and have long felt sceptical of the broadly held view that these remarkable works are the poor siblings of his piano concertos – less original, inspired, and engaging than their symphonic counterparts…”
Paul Lewis reveals the sonatas as compositions of extraordinary vitality, imagination and originality. He also shows their legacy by seeking out composers down the centuries who have picked up the threads. Last year, in the first instalment of Mozart +, Paul paired piano sonatas no.10 and no.14 with pieces by Poulenc and Debussy. Tonight he programmes piano sonatas nos.6 and 11 alongside seminal sets of variations by Felix Mendelssohn and Aaron Copland. Mendelssohn – ‘the Mozart of the Romantic Age’ – is a logical choice but why Copland? How brilliant to have Paul Lewis as our guide!
Tickets on general sale midday today 15th September!
Watch Paul Lewis performing Haydn: Piano Sonata in D major, Hob. XVI:51