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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.

 

In 1998 an award to celebrate Richard Lewis was created, generously endowed by the eminent pathologist Dr Jean Shanks. This charity, The Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Trust now funds now one of the most prestigious and largest prizes for young singers. 

Read more

Richard's widow, Elizabeth Muir-Lewis, has been instrumental in keeping his name alive and setting up the trust. Find out more.

It was a golden era of recording for any singer on the international stage from the 1950s to the early 1980s and beyond and Richard's recording reflects this.
Find out more or listen to the clips below.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha's Wedding Feast

Handel - Air: Waft her, angels (from Jephtha) 1958

Monteverdi: L'Incoronazione di Poppea

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Roberto Ortiz won the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks prize in 2009 and has recently been in contact to tell us he's returned to Würzburg in Germany for his third season. This is to include singing Count Almaviva in the Barber of Seville, Paris in La belle Hélène and Brighella in Ariadne Auf Naxos. 

Many thanks to Majory Collingwood, now aged 87, who sent us this picture she took of Richard at Worcester's Three Choirs Festival with some other famous faces.

(LtoR): Norman Walker, Isobel Baillie, David Willcocks, Mary Jarred and Richard.

Music Preserved's Sir Mark Elder talks about the artists and composers the organisation is cataloguing including Maria Callas, Benjamin Britten and Richard Lewis.

Read a selection of letters (being added to regularly) sent to Richard Lewis during his career including correspondence from famous names such as Luciana Pavarotti, Benjamin Britten, Michael Tippett and many others.

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