Ahead of his Australian tour, British pianist Paul Lewis chats to Clive Paget about finding the tenderness in Beethoven, why Mozart’s piano sonatas should not be underestimated and why he feels no need for a holiday.

Paul Lewis. Photo © Kaupo Kikkas

For a pianist whose mastery of Beethoven and Schubert has been universally acknowledged, it’s perhaps surprising to learn that Paul Lewis has wrestled for some time with a fear of Mozart. “I really can’t explain why,” he admits, “but I feel I’m not afraid of that challenge anymore, as I have been in the past.”

Audiences will get a chance to judge for themselves when the British pianist brings a selection of Mozart’s piano sonatas down under as part...