A PIANIST regarded as one of the most exceptional of his generation will perform twice in West Dorset this week.

Martin Cousin, who plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 3 in the Oscar-winning film Shine, will perform at the Bridport Arts Centre tomorrow at 11am and The Hub, Lyme Regis on Saturday at 7.30pm.

After graduating from the Royal College of Music, Cousin has performed at major venues in London – including the Barbican and Royal Festival Halls, as well as tours in New Zealand, Italy and the United States.

Highlights of his past three seasons include Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Concerto with the Philharmonica at Barbican Hall and Royal Festival Hall, Grieg’s Concerto at Symphony Hall.

Cousin’s chamber music has also taken him to Prague, Tokyo, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Barbados. He is also a founder member of the Aquinas Piano Trio, who played a series of concerts for Concerts in the West in 2013.

Concerts in the West director Catherine Hodgson said: “The fact that Martin’s debut CD of Rachmaninoff's Sonata No 1 and Morceaux de Salon in 2006 was chosen by the Daily Telegraph as Classical CD of the week should give you an idea of the superb standard of his playing.”