An encore occurs in the space between sound and silence. At the end of a concert, at the moment when the audience's emotions have attained their zenith, suddenly another piece begins to play - unexpected, unpredictable and surprising! The audience is overwhelmed with a renewed and intense emotional energy, and it is precisely this moment of conjecture that gives the encore its own particular potency. It is a happening that can abruptly steer the concert-goer's feelings in a range of unexpected directions and can either serve to continue the theme of what has musically been presented so far, or it can also be used to create a strong musical contrast. Whether it is a virtuoso piece or a minimalist musical perfor­mance, the choice of encore is crucial for the mood of the audience as they leave the hall and take their evening's experience home with them.