Richard Lewis Trust
Richard Lewis (1914-1990) was an internationally renowned tenor acclaimed for his mellifluous lyric voice, high standards of musicianship, impeccable diction and musical intelligence all during a career spanning over forty years. He made his operatic debut in 1939, and from 1947 onwards sang at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and at Covent Garden (London).
The Richard Lewis Trust was established in 1993 by Richard’s widow Elizabeth Muir-Lewis three years after his death and, following a generous initial endowment from the Jean Shanks Foundation, it was then able to make its first award; an annual £7,000 to fund one of Glyndebourne’s young and promising singers to train at the National Opera School in London.
In 2005, further funds were left to the Trust from Jean Shank’s estate which was used to extend the Trust’s awards to include the Royal Academy of Music, in a bid to help young singers at a more vulnerable time in their careers.
The annual (and competitive) Richard Lewis Award via the Royal Academy of Music includes a £14,000 singer’s prize plus a Webb accompanist’s prize of £3,500.
The Brandenburg Choral Festival is incredibly grateful to the Richard Lewis Trust for providing vital support for the administration and expansion of our concert programme.
To discover more about the Trust and Richard Lewis please visit their website at www.richardlewis-tenor.co.uk.
Learn more about Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis's widow Elizabeth Muir-Lewis, who is also the founder of the Richards Lewis/Jean Shank Trust, has written a memoir of her 25+ years of marriage to Britain's most celebrated lyric tenor.
It details her time spent at his side including his work with many of the world's best and most famous musicians, but also his more intimate moments with friends and family.
When the Last Note Sounds is released by London publishing house Austin Macauley. Within it Elizabeth explores the true accounts of great happenings following the Second World War when a renaissance of British classical music took place, giving birth to several great composers, producers and conductors and a school of singers that led the way to rival the Europeans. Richard Lewis was among the main architects of that musical rebirth.
The book has been reviewed in Opera magazine by critic George Hall, who said: “Her understanding of the voice and the world of performance are assets in recounting Richard Lewis’s career, one of the most successful of his time."
Brandenburg’s Artistic Director Bob Porter said: "Reading this wonderful book communicated all the expert judgement and warmth that you would experience having a quick chat with Elizabeth in her lounge.
"I have done both! It was illuminating and entertaining from start to finish."
Available directly from the publisher from Waterstones and Amazon.