The 24th Accordion Festival kicks off on Saturday (February 25th). Until March 26th it will be on the stages of numerous Viennese venues. It is the last program (co-)designed by festival founder Friedl Preisl. “It’s time to say goodbye,” he says in the program booklet. From 2024, the previous co-director Franziska Hatz will be responsible for the festival together with Lisa Reimitz-Wachberger.
This year, an interpretation of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” has been announced as a special treat. Otto Lechner takes on the pop classic together with Karl Ritter, Pamelia Stickney and Florian Schernhammer. One focus is on Slovenia, which features the Goran Bojcevski Trio, Los Hostes and the Tori Trio feat. Adja Sticker is represented.
In addition to other international accordion greats (e.g. Three for Silver from the USA and Danças Ocultas from Portugal), local virtuosos such as Attwenger, Belofour, Tschuschenkapelle and Krzysztof Dobrek will also play. The two Bosnian musicians Merima Ključo and Jelena Milušić present dramatic love songs and dark chansons.
Silent film matinees are on the program on Sundays. For example, Stefan Sterzinger (accordion) and Franz Schaden (double bass) are responsible for the soundtrack to Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau’s “Nosferatu” in the Filmcasino.
The opening gala will take place in the town hall. Other venues include the Metropol, Jungle Vienna, Orpheum, Porgy & Bess and the Sargfabrik. With the stage Purkersdorf there is also an “outpost” in Lower Austria. In addition to single tickets, a transferrable festival pass for five events of your choice is offered for 99 euros.
(SERVICE – 20th International Accordion Festival, February 25th to March 26th. Info: 0676/512-91-04, www.akkordeonfestival.at)
