RICHARD
GALLIANO

« Richard Galliano has changed the course of accordion history.
We can talk about before and after Galliano »

Yasuhiro Kobayashi, accordionist and musician accompanist of the singer Björk

Richard Galliano is today the only concert accordionist who records for the prestigious German record label Deutsche Grammophon.

It was my dearest wish: to give a fair place to this instrument, unjustly qualified as the “poor man’s piano” whereas my accordion has always been a Steinway with braces. I was determined to restore the image of my instrument, so I left my native village and “went up to Paris” like many others. There I had the chance to meet artists who quickly put their trust in me, among whom the among which the accordionists like Joss Baselli, André Astier, the singers like Claude Nougaro, Serge Reggiani, Barbara, jazzmen like Chet Baker, Charlie Haden, Ron Carter and Michel Portal…
Then, in the early 80’s, there was the collaboration and the birth of a friendship with Astor Piazzolla, and a close collaboration on several creations ” Famille d’Artistes “, ” A Midsummer Night’s Dream “, “Three Preludes for Concert Accordion”, “Ballet Tango for four accordions”.

The years 2010 to 2016 were devoted to the realization of four albums (Bach, Vivaldi, Nino Rota, Mozart), at the initiative of the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label.

This intense production reminded me of my very first recording, made in Bonson, a small village in the Alpes-Maritimes, in 1979, a 45 rpm record in which I interpreted one of my compositions “Trois Images pour accordéon”, the “Prélude du Tombeau de Couperin” by Maurice Ravel and ” Docteur Gradus ad Parnassum ” by Claude Debussy. The concerts I give today recount the story of an artist’s life, mine, the itinerary of a child animated by the passion of music, and of all the music.

This accordion recital entitled “Passion Galliano” features my own compositions, “Chat Pître”, “Tango Pour Claude”, “La Valse à Margaux”, but also my favorite songs “Ô Toulouse “, ” Ma plus Belle Histoire d’Amour “, ” Les Feuilles Mortes “… Astor Piazzolla is not forgotten, and it is with a constantly renewed happiness that I interpret regularly perform “Vuelvo al Sur”, “Chiquilin de Bachin”, “Milonga del Angel” and the magnificent “Oblivion”.

My friend Pierre Barouh wrote a very beautiful text entitled “L’Allégresse” on one of my composition “Il Piccolo Circo”. He used to say at the time “It’s incredible to see the number of countries that have made the accordion their national instrument”. He was so right. Indeed, the accordion is omnipresent in the popular music of Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, China, Russia, Ukraine and in the Balkans.
With this experience and all the concerts I have given on the five continents in my 50 years of career, I invite you to share this “Passion” for a concert.

“Paris violin, Paris cello, the accordion makes you even more beautiful”

Michel Legrand

« Close your eyes and listen »

Astor Piazzolla

Wayne Marshall, Richard Galliano and l’orchestra del TCBO