Con:trust – From Mozart to Ed Sheeran. No Limits.

What happens when two accordionists decide to break free from the boundaries of musical genres? When the elegance of W. A. Mozart meets the rhythms of Ed Sheeran, the romanticism of S. Rachmaninov encounters contemporary musical experimentation, and world-famous melodies take on an entirely unexpected sound?

The answer awaits on November 17 at St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius, where the German accordion duo Con:trust – Marius Staible and Daniel Roth – will demonstrate how two instruments can bring an entire universe of sound to life. Their programme in Vilnius will feature W. A. Mozart’s “Adagio”, a waltz by S. Rachmaninov, S. Reich’s minimalist masterpiece “Piano Phase”, contemporary composer Eli Greenhoe’s “For Alvin Lucier”, and original compositions by Con:trust. Alongside these works, audiences will hear Sting’s “Englishman in New York”, Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us”, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”, Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny”, and J. Ben’s Brazilian rhythm-infused “Mas Que Nada”.

This unexpected encounter between musical worlds is no coincidence – it lies at the very heart of Con:trust’s artistic philosophy. Even the duo’s name brings together two concepts – *contrast* and *trust* – reflecting the ability of two distinct musical personalities to become one on stage. Founded in Weimar in 2016, the duo has since performed at some of the world’s most prestigious concert venues, from the Berlin Philharmonie to the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York. Their achievements include the Franz Liszt Prize and the John Cage Award, as well as more than 30 world premieres of new musical works.

Their musical creativity has even captivated audiences of the television talent show “Das Supertalent” – in 2024, the duo’s performance attracted more than two million views on YouTube.

Vilnius already holds a special place in the career of one of the musicians: in 2021, Marius Staible won first prize at the International Accordion Competition held here. Now he returns alongside D. Roth to introduce Lithuanian audiences to the distinctive musical world of Con:trust.

This is an evening where classical virtuosity meets the freedom of improvisation, delicate chamber music blends with vibrant rhythms, and two accordions reveal far more than one might ever expect. **Con:trust invites audiences not to choose between classical and popular music, but to experience both – unexpectedly, imaginatively, and without limits.