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One of the very finest British pianists, Paul Lewis has drawn huge critical acclaim internationally for his Beethoven piano sonata cycles. Praised for his intellectual rigour and his imaginative lyricism, he brings a strong physicality as well as luminous poetic insights to Beethoven's tempestuous music. His all-Beethoven Festival recital contrasts sonatas both early and late. The melodic and harmonic beauty of the virtuosic Op 111 seems to look forward to Chopin, while the nocturnal evocations of the earlier 'Moonlight' Sonata justly make it one of Beethoven's best known works. The sparkling brilliance of the short Op 27 No 1 serves as a prelude to the transcendental drama of Op 111. Its stormy first movement gives way to sublime melody in its second, one of the composer's most serene creations.