The French pianist has cancelled her performances next year for personal reasons.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has announced that Japanese pianist Nobuyuki (Nobu) Tsujii will replace Hélène Grimaud in its 2017 season following the French pianist’s withdrawal. Grimaud, who came out to Australia this year to perform with the Australian Youth Orchestra, has cancelled her performances in May next year citing personal reasons.

^{Japanese pianist Nobuyuki (Nobu) Tsujii}

Her replacement, Tsujii, was recently in the country for the SSO’s Beethoven Festival, performing Beethoven’s Third Piano concerto. “There was magic in the air when Tsujii performed with the Orchestra in October this year,” said SSO Managing Director Rory Jeffes, “and the overwhelming positive response both from our audiences and the SSO musicians themselves meant we wanted to invite him back to Sydney as soon as possible.”

Tsujii – who was born blind – will perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 2 with the SSO at the Sydney Opera House on May 19 and 20 and will also give a recital performance on May 22 at City Recital Hall Angel Place featuring Beethoven’s Appassionata and Moonlight sonatas and Bach’s Italian Concerto. All previously issued...