Pianist cancels L.A. appearance

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard has canceled his appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic next Thursday through Sunday at Walt Disney Concert Hall on doctor’s orders because of back strain.

Peter Serkin will fill in with a slight change in program. Replacing Janacek’s Capriccio for Piano Left Hand and Winds will be Messiaen’s “Petites esquisses d’oiseaux” (Small Sketches of Birds) for piano solo.

The remainder of the program, to be conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi, will be the same: Messiaen’s “Oiseaux exotiques” (Exotic Birds) and Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony.

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-- Chris Pasles