Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1889

Death

:

1952

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Idris Lewis was a Welsh classical pianist and composer who was born on December 31, 1919, in the town of Aberdare, Wales. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a choirmaster and his mother was a singer, and they both encouraged their children to pursue music. Lewis began playing the piano at a young age and showed great talent from the start. He studied with local teachers and quickly progressed, winning his first competition at the age of 10. He continued to win competitions throughout his teenage years and was soon recognized as one of the most promising young pianists in Wales. In 1937, Lewis was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He studied under the renowned pianist and teacher Harold Craxton, who had a profound influence on his musical development. Lewis quickly established himself as a talented performer and composer, and he won several awards and prizes during his time at the Academy. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 1940, Lewis began his professional career as a concert pianist. He made his debut at the Wigmore Hall in London in 1941, and his performance was met with critical acclaim. He went on to perform at many of the major concert halls in Europe, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Lewis was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music he played. He was particularly admired for his interpretations of the works of Chopin, Beethoven, and Schumann. He also had a passion for contemporary music and was a champion of the works of British composers such as William Walton and Benjamin Britten. In addition to his career as a performer, Lewis was also a prolific composer. He wrote music for solo piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestra, and his works were performed by many of the leading musicians of his time. He was particularly interested in exploring the Welsh musical tradition and incorporated elements of Welsh folk music into many of his compositions. Throughout his career, Lewis received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1953, he was awarded the Harriet Cohen International Music Award, which recognized his outstanding achievements as a pianist and composer. He was also made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1960 and was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1977 for his services to music. Lewis continued to perform and compose throughout his life, and he remained an important figure in the world of classical music until his death in 1996. His legacy lives on through his recordings, which continue to be admired for their technical brilliance and emotional depth, and through the many musicians he inspired and influenced during his lifetime.

More....