Celtic Connections welcomes celebrated Bulgarian-born pianist Marietta Petkova and Dutch bandoneonist Carel Kraayenhof to Glasgow’s City Halls for a special collaboration. The Hand of the Bear is an autobiographical performance arising from mutual admiration and undeniable chemistry between these two masters.

With folk music as the underlying theme, the pair perform works by Bach, Scarlatti, and Schubert and Argentinian masters such as Garçia and Piazzolla. A unique summit between piano and bandoneón (a type of South American concertina), the compositions are interwoven with touching personal stories recounting their past experiences and biggest influences — including a shared fascination with legendary classical pianist Sviatoslav Richter.