The programme starts with a miniature dialogue between Rossini’s Riens and Beethoven’s Bagatelles, which were composed during both composers’ late period, at a time when they were both extremely famous. Both groups of works share lots of humour, lightness together with a notable fantasy, originality and strong personality. The second half, based on folklore spirit, is a musical journey from the Mediterranean to Eastern Europe: Hatjidakis’ Ionian Suite (the first solo piano work written by the composer) is inspired by western classical music thus with notable influence from Greek tradition, while Constantinidis borrows purely traditional song and dance themes coming exclusively from the Dodecanese transcribed as miniatures in an original and appealing way. To conclude, Balakirev borrows two traditional themes from Circassian and Crimea to create a unique result: one of the most virutoso and particularly demanding pieces on piano repertoire, where folklore tradition is combined with brilliance and lyricism.