Pianist Clare Hammond, who has delighted audiences in the town on previous occasions, is making a return visit to the Sidmouth Music series of concerts in its 50th season later this month.

After losing the whole previous season to Covid lockdown, chairman Stephen Huyshe-Shires said: “In compiling this season and the next we have tried to re-engage those artists whose bookings had to be cancelled. We are especially pleased that Clare has been able to come back to celebrate our 50th with her recital on 23rd October.”

French composer Hélène de Montgeroult wrote 114 etudes in 1816 as a study course for piano, from which Clare has selected five to open her recital.

Then comes the suite from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by Astor Piazzolla in 1986, now arranged for piano to mark his centenary year. Johannes Brahms composed his ‘six piano pieces’ in 1893 as a gift to Clara Schumann. This, his penultimate piano composition, has become one of his most loved works, with which Clare will close her first half.

In the second half she will play five of 24 preludes written, following the precedent of Bach and others, by contemporary composer Adam Gorb. ‘The Bells’ composed in the early 20th century by American composer William Grant Still will follow. Her final piece will be ‘Ten variations on a Polish theme’, based on a patriotic folk melody by Karol Szymanowski.

In early November the Barbican String Quartet plays Mozart, Britten and Schubert. Later the same month Meera Maharaj and Dominic Degavino give a recital of flute and piano music. Then in the New Year The London Bridge Trio will feature a commission piece by Colin Matthews alongside trios by Schumann and Mendelssohn.

February brings Sidmouth’s triennial collaboration with ‘The Leeds’ and a recital by 2021 International Piano Competition bronze medallist Ariel Lanyi. The season ends in March with baritone Theo Platt and pianist Keval Shah, performing songs by Samuel Barber and Schubert.

It promises to be an entertaining programme of music.

Full details are on the web at www.SidmouthMusic.org.uk with tickets available locally as well as on-line. Enquiries can be made to 01395 597454.