Paul Lewis Performs Mozart’s Final Piano Concerto at Tanglewood

On July 25, pianist Paul Lewis opened the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the Shed in Tanglewood with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 in B‑flat major, the composer’s last piano concerto completed in January 1791. The work’s three movements – a lyrical Allegro, a serene Larghetto, and a playful Allegro rondo – were highlighted by Lewis’s nuanced touch and the orchestra’s supportive accompaniment.

In a separate interview, Lewis explained his recent focus on Mozart, noting how the composer’s simplicity masks deeper complexity. He described his “Mozart+” programs that pair Mozart’s sonatas and concerto with works by Poulenc, Debussy, Schubert, and Chopin, and discussed an upcoming tour of China, including performances at the China National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.