It is an unusual, but above all great combination: classical pianist Marietta Petkova and tango hero Carel Kraayenhof. The latter once acquired world fame after he evoked the famous tear of Máxima with the notes of Piazzolla’s Adiós Nonino. But Kraayenhof is an all-round musician, someone who wants to show that the melancholy bandoneon can do much more than sigh, lean, curse and groan to the rhythm of the tango. Petkova is also adventurous enough to step out of her comfort zone.

With folk music as their underlying theme, they perform works by Bach, Schubert and Argentine tango grandmaster Piazzolla, among others. The music is interspersed with personal stories, such as their shared fascination with legendary classical pianist Svyatoslav Richter, whose giant hand once encompassed the child hand of little Marietta. Kraayenhof wrote a poetic piano piece in tribute to Richter, which he later renamed Ruka na Metchka, or Hand of the Bear, especially for Petkova.