Paul Lewis, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 Pathétique

Jean Sibelius
Six Bagatelles for piano, Op. 97

Claude Debussy
Children's Corner for piano, L 113

Fryderyk Chopin
Polonaise-Fantaisie for piano, Op. 61

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 Appassionata

Watch the video
Inside the music with Paul Lewis

Although Paul Lewis has reached his full artistic potential in a broad repertoire, Beethoven has recently been at the centre of his activities. Since 2005, he has performed the 32 Piano Sonatas in a series of recitals throughout Europe and America. Lewis finds a balance between integrity and imagination in this concert, which starts and finishes with two atmospheric pages: the Pathétique Sonata in C minor and the Appassionata. Between them are Six Bagatelles by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius associated with Debussy's Children's Corner. "This is music for childhood, for the three-year-old Chouchou, but above all music about childhood, music resulting from an adult's contemplation of the mysterious emergence of a relationship between a child and objects," wrote the pianist and critic Piero Rattalino. The programme also includes the last of Chopin's Polonaises. In this magnificent piano piece, the composer blends the forms of the Ballade and the Fantasy in a symphonic mould. The seven episodes are linked together by a profound unity of atmosphere, both tender and moving. This is one of the summits of piano music.

"'I start practising music slowly until my fingers soften. I don't do any exercises, studies or scales: I've never liked "playing the piano" - I like to explore music. I learn the notes very methodically, both hands separately, taking my time. Once settled, I start to enjoy it. The process doesn't sound like much fun, and it isn't really, but without concert deadlines, I've had much more fun because there's been more freedom to play," wrote Paul Lewis in an article about his daily routine during the lockdown.