Musica Viva Australia is thrilled to welcome back the inimitable Paul Lewis to the stage. The British concert pianist has received universal critical acclaim for his performances and recordings of the great piano works of Beethoven and Schubert. He now turns his laser-like focus and insightful musicianship to Mozart.
What more is there to say about Mozart? A great deal, according to Paul Lewis.
‘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.’
This recital series challenges that idea by juxtaposing the many facets of this rich corner of the piano repertoire with works by other composers, presenting both contrasts with and connections to Mozart’s piano writing. The transparency, discretion, and humour of Poulenc, and the playful sensuality of Debussy’s L'isle joyeuse are all threads to trace back to and listen out for in the piano sonatas of Mozart.
‘Lewis is direct, honest, affectionate and charismatic, but always with an underlined emotion and depth of feeling … It is the beauty of simplicity at its highest level, and it’s so hard to achieve.’ – The Arts Desk
Artist
PAUL LEWIS piano
Program
MOZART+ Program One
MOZART Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K.330
POULENC Selections from Improvisations pour le piano
DEBUSSY L'isle joyeuse
MOZART Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K.457
Presented in association with UKARIA.
UKARIA presents Paul Lewis Mozart+ Program Two on Sunday 18 October 2026, with further details to be communicated in October 2025.