The name of tonight’s concert – “Silenzio” – is taken from the title of a composition for accordion, violin and cello by Soviet Russian-born Sofia Gubaidulin. Gubaidulia is a leading composer of contemporary classical music whose musical and religious convictions made life difficult in the USSR/Russia; she has lived in Hamburg, Germany since 1992. The composition is an important work for tonight’s guest, Halvor Lillesund, a much-in-demand local musician, arranger, teacher and composer.

Also on the programme is the towering piano trio in E minor, op. 67, by the very well-known Dmitri Shostakovich. He too had very strained relations with Soviet authorities.