Regular visitors to Music on Mondays will already be familiar with the artistry of pianist Simon Callaghan. He has played for us many times, always delivering musicianship of formidable intelligence and great sensitivity. He and I met first as performers at the Highgate Festival in London, but I really got to know him well when he invited me to teach on a summer school in Winchester. Over several happy years down there in Hampshire, I was able fully to appreciate not only his skill as a pianist but also his considerable gifts as a teacher. So perhaps this concert is an illustration more of the felicity of The Ties between Teacher & Teacher than that of Pupil & Teacher!

Some time in 2022 Simon had been in touch with me immediately after finishing recording a disc with an accordionist who was new to him. He had much enjoyed working not only on some less familiar repertoire, but most particularly he had been struck by the imagination and expertise of Milos Milivojevic and his advocacy for the accordion. Of course I remembered Milos immediately from an earlier visit to Luton in 2017 when he played with his regular ensemble Kosmos, as part of our Eastern European season. I am certain that in the hands of these two superb performers we will be assured of an unforgettable evening.

Richard Sisson (Programme Planner)