Richard Galliano - Galliano, R.: Madreperla (2023) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Petite Suite Française: I. Prélude
02. Petite Suite Française: II. Aubade
03. Petite Suite Française: III. Espiègle
04. Petite Suite Française: IV. Interlude
05. Petite Suite Française: V. Waltz
06. Contrastes: I. Milonga
07. Contrastes: II. Lento
08. Contrastes: III. Valse
09. Contrastes: IV. Adagio
10. Contrastes-V. Pavane
11. Contrastes: VI. Fugue/Tango
12. Contrastes: VII. Forro
13. Madreperla: I. Tango Ostinato
14. Madreperla: II. Balade mélancolique
15. Madreperla: III. Mazurka Antillaise

The accordion surely is an evocative instrument, its mere timbre conjuring mellow images of the Italian Riviera or cobbled Parisian streets. One would expect it to be quite out of place in the relatively formal environment of the classical concert hall – and be sorely mistaken, as far as Richard Galliano is concerned. The versatile French composer and accordion virtuoso sets out to elegantly shatter expectations – and his new album MADREPERLA proves him right.

MADREPERLA’s brilliance stems not only from the sheer audacity of juxtaposing the accordion with a full orchestra, nor from the fact that it succeeds spectacularly in doing so. What’s most intoxicating is Galliano’s fusion of symphonic writing with eclectic styles of dance – the pavane, the mazurka, the milonga, the forró, the waltz – whose particular zest, allure and élan pour forth torrentially from these compositions. A triumph.

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