Sell-out show by prize-winner pianist Catone

It was hard to get a ticket once the news was out that Eugenio Catone, was flying in from Italy to give a piano recital at the Jerwood on Saturday night.

The Foreshore Gallery proved provided the setting for the occasion, against the backdrop of the vibrant Gillian Ayres exhibition.

Eugenio delighted the capacity audience with his programme of Schubert, Mozart, Liszt, Clementi and Chopin, before returning for several curtain calls and finally being presented with a red rose by Sarah Kowitz of the Kowitz Family Foundation.

Frank Wibaut, new artistic director of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, spoke of the new and exciting plans for the 2013 Piano Week in March culminating in the Final with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

He continued by telling the audience that while adjudicating at a prestigious classical music competition in Tokyo this week, he had counted at least 30 young Japanese competitors who were keen to compete in the Final in March, such was the excitement about the 2013 competition and the chance to win a concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In attendance were Mayor Alan Roberts, council leader Jeremy Birch, composer and concert pianist Polo Piatti, Jerwood director Liz Gilmour, Sue Schlesinger, and former editor of The Spectator and the Sunday Telegraph newspaper Dominic Lawson among others.