The Karolina & Iwo Duo have been described as “so well-matched it sounds like one instrument.” The duo will perform Sept. 14 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Courtesy photo

With a repertoire that ranges from Baroque and Romantic works to contemporary music, the classical Karolina & Iwo Duo will present a unique concert Sept. 14 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center with the audience seated on the Castle Theater stage surrounding the musicians.

Both virtuosos, Karolina Mikołajczyk and Iwo Jedynecki, bring great energy to the stage, highlighting not only existing repertoire for accordion and violin but also innovative arrangements and commissions.

Their MACC concert will include Vivaldi’s “Violin Concerto in G-minor, op. 8, RV 315 Summer,” Ravel’s “Tzigane,” Gershwin’s “Three Preludes,” and Philip Glass’ “Etude no. 6.”

“Throughout the 12 years of our performing career, we have amassed a true variety of repertoire, from the Baroque to the contemporary to tango and even film music,” the couple explained by email. “Due to the strikingly abundant possibilities of violin and classical accordion duo, the most exciting programs are created when we decide to put many eggs in one basket, to showcase how much this unusual instrument setting has to offer. We will take on ‘Summer’ from Vivaldi and Piazzolla, Polish classical music gems, a glimpse into Philip Glass’ ‘Etudes’ album release, as well as French Impressionism from the likes of Ravel and Debussy. Saint-Saëns’ ‘Danse Macabre’ is probably the most fun piece we have ever performed, with a fascinating story behind the music. We will explain everything from the stage, and we promise the audience will be in for a treat.”

One of the most vibrant chamber ensembles of the current generation of classical musicians, they are recipients of Poland’s most prestigious prize for classical music. Acclaimed violinist Maxim Vengerov described them as “a duo so well-matched that it sounds like one instrument.”

Grand Prix and first prize winners at several international music competitions, the duo’s performances include prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Singapore’s Esplanade Concert Hall, The Edge Melbourne, Chile’s Teatro del Lago and China’s Guangzhou Opera House.

Mikołajczyk plays a Duke London violin from 1776 and Jedynecki plays a Pigini Sirius Millennium accordion. Both instruments were financed by Poland’s Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

They began their relationship as romantic partners while students at the University of Music in Warsaw.

“In 2013, we decided to try if we are a match on stage as well,” they said. “It turned out to be the best decision ever as we are still together, both as a couple and as an ensemble, with 35 countries on five continents visited with our music to date.”

The duo released their debut album, “Premiére,” in 2016. It was the first album on the global market with new music by living composers performed by a violin-accordion duet.

Later recordings included “Plays Piazzolla,” featuring the tango music of Astor Piazzolla, “BŁAŻEWICZ: Violin and Accordion Works,” “Bach: Goldberg Variations (Aria-Var. 13),” and “IMAGIQUE: A Different History of Music,” featuring a reimagined history of classical music ranging from Handel, Chopin and Mozart to Bartok and Ravel.

The couple reported they love being able to “create a unique sound when performing together, sometimes in a way that is hard to distinguish which instrument plays which part when you close your eyes. A superstar violinist, Maxim Vengerov told us that we ‘sounded like one instrument’ in our Mozart sonata performance. It encapsulates what we are working on each day.”

Audiences are sometimes surprised by their unique instrument combination. “It sometimes works to our disadvantage with people who had never heard us play — ‘a violin and an accordion? Can’t imagine that.’ And it works to our biggest advantage when they give it a chance. We guess this is what being a pioneer comes with. To get a glimpse of what not to expect from us, pianist Jon Kimura Parker, director of Honens Festival in Calgary, once came up with a cheeky yet powerful invite to one of our recitals — ‘This is not your grandfather’s accordion.'”

Following their Maui concert, they will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Karolina & Iwo Duo will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in the MACC’s Castle Theater. Tickets are $47 for adults and $29 for children 12 and under. MACC members receive a 10% discount.