After the ACCORDION FESTIVAL in 2022 was able to take place – almost – as planned, it basically seems to be next taking place from the end of February 2023 (February 25th – March 26th). out of question. How the ongoing Covid problem, the political and economic destabilization, the inhumane war in Ukraine, the ecological devastation and one-way streets will affect everyday life at the festival will show.
In addition, the already complex logistics and programmatic work of such a festival has become neither less nor easier in these times, on the other hand, even in the year 2022 that is drawing to a close, there is little that is more enjoyable than bringing together music full of beauty and substance with its appreciative audience work.
Friedl Preisl and Franziska Hatz, as program designers, therefore continue to see the task of promoting the richness of the music that is made with the accordion at the center Accordion Festival to offer an extensive forum, to bring established artists and new talents to various stages in Vienna – and one in Lower Austria – for a month. (A short excursion into the world of the harmonica, which is justifiable in terms of content, is also possible when the Harmonica Quartet Austria actually performs without an accordion on March 18th (shelter future).
The festival kicks off on the last Saturday of February when Otto Lechner and Arnaud Methivier perform as Arnotto sowie Today Nika & Koehne Quartet at the opening gala, left entirely to the collective musical creation of the moment (February 25, town hall). It picks up speed with an artistic summit meeting of two duos the next day when Merima Kljuco & Jelena Milusic and Bakanic/Spaemann at the second opening gala in Lorely Saal let their respective music speak (26.2.).
Otto Lechner, who, as is well known, was an essential “midwife” of the festival decades ago, will be there on March 19 (Metropolis) with VIENNESE RAI ORCHESTRAas well as on March 1st, a Wednesday March (Sarg factory) to be heard again when he meets Karl Ritter, Pamelia Stickney and Florian Schernhammer Pink Floyds “Dark Side Of The Moon” accepts. At the same time, Lechner is a definite grande dame of the accordion festival and has appeared at almost all festivals. What he has in mind with the exceptional instrumentalist Klaus Paier (to be heard on March 17th with his longtime artistic partner Asja Valcic, second item on the programme The collective, The stage Purkersdorf) and the equally wonderful Krzysztof Dobrek, who deservedly contests the third closing gala of this year’s festival (26.3. Metropolis).
In the Sarg factory, where Lechner follows in the footsteps of Gilmour, Waters & Co, the three concerts with a focus on Slovenia are also scheduled: Goran Bojcevski Trio (March 6), Los Hostes (March 11) and Tori Trio feat. Adja Sticker (23.3.).
Other international highlights are guaranteed to be provided by the 17 Hippies (27.2., Porgy & Bess) with their “Berlin style”, Three for Silver from the USA (05.03., Jungle Vienna), the famous Hidden Dances from Portugal (12.3., Metropolis), die 23. Celtic Spring Tour (13.3., shelter future) or that Anita Obweg Quartet from Italy (20.3., honorable hall). The is also of international importance Viennese Tschuschenkapellewhose music has always traveled to various sound countries from Vienna (March 21, Theater Akzent).
Other top-class local formations, the incomparable Attwenger (24.3, shelter future) and Belofour (25.3., town hall) will finally contest the closing gala 1 and 2 of the festival.
An accordion festival that starts with the silent film matinee (every festival Sunday, 1 p.m. Movie casino) and workshops on the instrument and how to play it (Saturday, March 4th, 11th and 18th, from 3 p.m., Austrian folk song work) will again have been an extensive artistic bliss package.
With this 24th edition of the Accordion Festivals also the transition of the leading design of the same from Friedl Preisl to Franziska Hatz (on March 8th with Grandmother Hatz and Walletschek as a musician in Theater accent to experience) and Lisa Reimitz-Wachberger – what that means and will mean in detail, please refer to the respective forewords of the three convinced culture creators in the program booklet of the festival.
One thing is and remains certain in any case:
The accordion festival continues! And how!
(Text Rainer Krispel)
Program Accordion Festival