Paul Lewis

Paul Lewis is one of the leading pianists in the interpretation of the Central European repertoire, particularly acclaimed for his performances of Beethoven and Schubert, which have received widespread critical praise. Awarded a CBE for his services to music, the sincerity and depth of his musical approach have earned him international recognition.

He has collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. His close relationship with the Boston Symphony Orchestra led to his appointment as Koussevitzky Artist at Tanglewood in 2020.

Lewis frequently develops composer-focused projects, such as his Mozart+ series (2026–2027), which combines lesser-known works by Mozart with repertoire by other composers, or his Schubert sonata cycle presented worldwide between 2022 and 2025.

With a particular affinity for Beethoven, he has performed the complete piano concertos internationally, notably presenting the full cycle in a single season at the BBC Proms.

His discography, particularly with Harmonia Mundi, includes award-winning recordings devoted to Beethoven, Schubert and Romantic composers such as Schumann, Brahms and Liszt. He has also premiered contemporary works, including Thomas Larcher’s Piano Sonata.

In chamber music, he regularly collaborates with tenor Mark Padmore in lied recitals, with whom he has recorded several Schubert song cycles. He is co-artistic director of the Midsummer Music festival and has served as chairman of the jury of the Cliburn International Piano Competition.