THE new season of Darlington Piano Society starts on October 20, with a much-anticipated return by the award-winning Martin Roscoe.

Martin opened the season two years ago and his programme of Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin attracted one of the society’s largest audiences in recent years. His programme of works by Haydn, Schubert, Debussy, Ravel and Liszt will open the season in great style.

Subsequent recitals in the first half of the season include a welcome return by Grace Yeo with a programme of Clara and Robert Schumann, Beethoven and Scriabin (November 17) and, on December 8, Alexandra Vaduva, who continues her PhD studies at the Royal Academy of Music, researching the piano compositions of George Enescu and her recital includes two of his works, alongside Beethoven, Schubert, Bartok and Scarlatti.

The new year sees the return of the outstanding Ukrainian pianist, Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the 2013 Van Cliburn competition and now embarking on a second UK tour. On January 26, he will perform masterpieces of the Russian repertoire by Scriabin and Rachmaninov alongside sonatas from the classical era by Mozart and Schubert, as well as work by the prolific Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho.

On February 23, the young British pianist Simon Callaghan presents a recital of pieces by Schubert, Poulenc and Schumann. Simon is a prolific solo and chamber musician, and his discography includes music by Sterndale Bennett and Sir Hubert Parry, alongside other lesser known composers of piano works.

The season ends on March 29 with a performance of the last three sonatas by Beethoven. This will be given by Steven Osborne, who first played for the society in February 1998.

Greg Johnson, chairman of the society, said: “In my five years as chairman, I have made several attempts to secure a recital from Steven, but his commitments elsewhere have always precluded this. Imagine my joy when I was approached by his agent offering this engagement prior to a subsequent performance in New York.

"To hear Steven in Darlington after a 22-year gap, performing this programme, which he has recorded to great acclaim, will be an unmissable opportunity, particularly in the 250th anniversary year of Beethoven’s birth.”

Full details of the society’s season can be found at www.dpiano.co.uk and in its brochure. The recitals take place in Central Hall, The Dolphin Centre, Darlington, on Sundays at 3pm.

Season tickets at £55 can be purchased through the booking form in the brochure or via the website. Individual recital tickets, which are £14 (uner-21s, free), are available from the Dolphin Centre in advance of each recital and on the door on the day.