Pianist Piers Lane AO returns to UKARIA on 1 November 2026 with the Australia Ensemble UNSW for a program spanning Poulenc, Debussy, Wesley-Smith and Ravel.
London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane AO returns to UKARIA in collaboration with the Australia Ensemble UNSW for a Franco-Australian chamber music program on 1 November 2026. The concert opens with Francis Poulenc's incidental music for L'Invitation au Château, which pairs with Claude Debussy's Suite Bergamasque, where Lane's gift for poetry and drama takes centre stage in Debussy's glimmering keyboard writing.
The program includes Australian composer Martin Wesley-Smith's Merry-go-round (2002) for clarinet, cello and electronics. Written for a 2002 premiere, the work addresses the fate of children in war-torn Afghanistan with deceptive lightness that descends into raw power, reminiscent of Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. The concert concludes with Maurice Ravel's Piano Trio in A minor, written on the cusp of World War I, a masterpiece that propelled the genre forward by demanding both virtuosity and chamber music subtlety from its players.
The ensemble comprises David Griffiths (clarinet), Dimity Hall (violin), Julian Smiles (cello), and Piers Lane (piano). The performance runs approximately 2 hours with a 25-minute interval featuring complimentary afternoon tea. Ticket prices are $80 for adults, $75 concession, and $40 for under-40s. Pre-concert light lunch is available for $17.
Details are correct at the time of publishing. Events can change or be cancelled, so please confirm dates, times and prices with the venue or ticket seller before booking.
