The English Paul Lewis will receive the International Prize “Musical Academy Chigiana” tomorrow, 11th of July (19) at Public Palace in Siena. At the 25th edition, the Prize - this year assigned during the 63th Musical Week of Siena-, has been founded in 1982 by Rolf Becker, administrative director of the Musical Academy, and Domenico Sanna, to stimulate the artistic activity of young musicians. The prize, which has been granted the sponsorship of the President of Italian Republic, is assigned by international journalists: Joachim Kaiser (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Monaco di Baviera), Walter Dobner (Die Presse, Vienna), David Stevens (International Herald Tribune, New York), Giuseppe Rossi (La Nazione, Florence), beyond the artistic Director of the Chigiana Academy.
In the past editions some of the greatest names: Gidon Kremer (1982), Anne-Sophie Mutter (1986), Viktoria Mullova (1988) Frank Peter Zimmermann (1990), Gil Shaham (1992), Maxim Vengerov (1995), Sara Chang (2005) and the pianisti Peter Serkin (1983), Krystian Zimerman (1985), Andras Schiff (1987), Evgeny Kissin (1991), Andrea Lucchesini (1994), Lilya Zilberstein (1998), Leif Where Andsnes (2001), Arcadi Volodos (2003), beyond the director of orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen (1993), to the Quartet Hagen (1996) and the Quartet Artemis (2004), names by now very known in international the musical panorama.
This year the prize will be assigned to the pianist Paul Lewis, than will be exhibited in a concert with Sonata in sol magg. op. 79 and Sonata in flat magg. op. 106 “für das Hammerklavier” of Beethoven. Considered like one of the best artists of his generation, Lewis is regular host of important musical centers and festival. After the successes in the Flat World Competition of 1984 and in the Tunbridge Wells International Young Artists Competition, he participated in the BBC's program "New Generation" in 1999.
Paul Lewis played in most prestigious concerts and festivals, he was invited in Europe, Australia and United States and recently he played in Adelaide, Amsterdam, Brisbane, Brussels, Canberra, Dallas, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Lucerna, Lyon, Madrid, Melbourne, Milan, Münster, New York, Paris, Seattle, Sydney, Vancouver, Vevey, Vienna and Zurigo. He is regular host of the BBC Proms, Schubertiade Festival in Schwarzenberg, the Roque d'Anthéron in France and of the Festival di of Risor and Vancouver.
He collaborated with prestigious artists (Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Collins, Ernst Kovacic, Haffner Wind Ensemble, Katherine Gowers). He played with important formations and directors (Mark Elder, Ivor Bolton, Richard Hickox, Emmanuel Krivine, Vassily Sinaisky and Gerard Schwarz). His first recording for Harmonia Mundi (Sonate for pianoforte D. 784 and D. 958 of Schubert) has met the consent of critic and public and has gained the Diapason d' Or Choc de Année 2002. He recorded the Quartets for piano of Mozart with Leopold String Trio for the Hyperion Records.
