The acclaimed musician, pictured, who has thrilled audiences around the world, will perform at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, next Tuesday, December 1st, and again on Monday, February 15th.

The Bridgewater Hall was designed with the acoustic for piano as a key focus, and it was Perahia who gave the first solo recital there after it first opened in 1996. After a break of nearly 10 years, he is making a vey welcome.

A leading interpreter of Bach and Chopin, Perahia has amassed a distinguished back catalogue of recordings of this repertoire, and earlier this year embarked on a new exploration of Beethoven's sonatas with a warmly received release of a new CD on Sony.

His December 1st concert sees him direct his long-time collaborators, The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, in music by Bach and Mozart. In February he returns for a recital, the repertoire for which has yet to be announced.

Peter Davison, the Bridgewater's artistic consultant, said: "We are delighted to welcome back to Manchester one of the most respected pianists in the world."

Tickets for Murray Perahia's concert next week cost from £10 to £36 and can be purchased online at www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk or by telephone at 0161 9079000.