After an excellent informative talk about his instrument, Miloš performed a solo suite by Viktor Vlasov which brilliantly illustrated some aspects of life in the Soviet Gulag of the 1930s-50s. To say that we were wowed by the virtuosity of the playing would be a complete understatement! We heard the wind blowing through the birches, the tramp of marching feet, the sawing of timber and scarcely believed that these sounds could be conjured from the accordion! In a series of almost cinematic musical sketches, which in ambition reminded me of the Mussorgsky Portraits at an exhibition, Miloš laid bare the experience of the Gulag and completely won over the audience.

The second half began with guitar solos from Craig Ogden – two harpsichord sonatas by Scarlatti with the complex passagework brilliantly and lightly played, more audible than on many harpsichords, followed by Coste’s Fantasie and Barrios’s Vals, both virtuoso pieces, the second the more approachable with its easy flowing style. Miloš Milivojević then returned to the stage and the concert concluded with Boccherini; an eerie, discordant but not unattractive piece by the Czech Jan Truhlář; and a version of Astor Piazzolla’s famous Libertango which was elaborately improvisatory and allowed both players amply to demonstrate their skills.

This was an outstandingly enjoyable concert played by two true virtuosi on an intriguing combination of instruments. One can only join the players in wishing that there were a larger repertoire for them by composers whose talents match those of these wonderful musicians.