Richard Galliano & Josephine Cronholm

Accordionist Richard Galliano did for European folk — specifically, the early 20th century French ballroom dance form known as musette — what his mentor Astor Piazzolla did for the Argentinian tango. Galliano reimagined and revitalized a musical tradition, expanding its emotional range to reflect modern sensibilities, opening it up to improvisation learned through American jazz. In fact, Galliano was more of a jazz musician than a folk one, although he blurred the lines so much that distinctions were often difficult to make. Born in France of Italian stock, Galliano began playing accordion (as his father had) at a young age. He later picked up the trombone, and studied composition at the Academy in Nice…

Accordionist Richard Galliano did for European folk — specifically, the early 20th century French ballroom dance form known as musette — what his mentor Astor Piazzolla did for the Argentinian tango. Galliano reimagined and revitalized a musical tradition, expanding its emotional range to reflect modern sensibilities, opening it up to improvisation learned through American jazz. In fact, Galliano was more of a jazz musician than a folk one, although he blurred the lines so much that distinctions were often difficult to make. Born in France of Italian stock, Galliano began playing accordion (as his father had) at a young age. He later picked up the trombone, and studied composition at the Academy in Nice…

The time of the accordion has arrived. Following a classical chart-topping album by Martynas on Decca, Richard Galliano releases his second album – Vivaldi on the iconic Deutsche Grammophon label. Three years after the success of his Bach album and after revisiting the music of Nino Rota, accordionist Richard Galliano turns to Baroque music with a new album devoted to Vivaldi. Once again, Richard Galliano has chosen purity and simplicity in recording his own version of The Four Seasons, with his arrangement for accordion and string quintet. Four arias from Vivadi operas, also arranged by Richard Galliano for accordion, complete this imaginative release.