Music for Galway’s final concert of the current season will take place next Wednesday, May 7, when legendary Australian pianist Piers Lane will perform the complete Nocturnes by Chopin.

He is replacing Anne-Marie McDermott who had been scheduled to play, but who has had to withdraw. The candlelight concert will take place in the city’s St Joseph’s Church on Presentation Road at 7.30pm.

Piers, who is based in the UK, and Anne-Marie McDermott, from the USA, were due to serve on the jury of the Dublin International Piano Competition later in the month. She’s had to cancel that engagement too. Meanwhile, Piers has come to the rescue for the Galway recital, and audiences are in for a treat as he will play these popular pieces, giving spoken introductions to each.

Chopin, whose early influences included Irish composer, John Field, went on to develop the nocturne into a sophisticated and emotionally charged utterance. The 21 Nocturnes chart his development – and therefore the development of the genre – across almost 20 years, and give a fascinating insight into one of the most creative minds of the 19th century.

People who have already bought tickets for Anne-Marie McDermott’s concert can use them for this one, or contact Music for Galway for a credit or a refund; info@musicforgalway.ie or 091 705962.

Standard tickets are €22 with concessions of €19.80, and €11. Social Inclusion tickets are also available for fulltime students, asylum seekers, people in receipt of jobseeker allowance and disability allowance. More information and booking at musicforgalway.ie.

Pictured: Australian pianist Piers Lane.