As part of the Folies Parisiennes series, the Palazzetto Bru Zane will present Accordion in France on October 28, 2025. The concert features accordionist Félicien Brut and cellist Astrig Siranossian in an imaginative program of transcriptions by Saint-Saëns, Bizet, Chopin, Poulenc, Popper, Renard, and others.
The accordion, invented in Vienna in 1829, arrived in France only a few years later. At first, it was regarded as a fashionable novelty—almost a toy—but it quickly gained prestige, appearing in aristocratic salons as a luxury instrument. Only at the end of the 19th century did it migrate to the popular sphere, becoming the beloved voice of Parisian streets, cafés, and guinguettes, forever linked to dance and conviviality.
Accordion in France revisits this dual identity. By pairing the accordion with the cello, Brut and Siranossian restore the instrument’s original role as a refined chamber partner, while also acknowledging its folkloric spirit. Through their transcriptions, well-known pages of the French and European repertoire are reborn with new colors: Chopin’s lyricism gains unexpected warmth, Bizet’s rhythms sparkle with popular verve, Poulenc’s elegance acquires an earthy charm. The cello’s deep resonance enriches the accordion’s brilliance, creating a dialogue that is at once intimate and vibrant.
With their artistry, Brut and Siranossian highlight the accordion’s surprising versatility, moving effortlessly between salon sophistication and street vitality. The concert concludes with a convivial toast, extending the festive spirit of an evening that redefines the place of the accordion in French musical history.
Website: www.bru-zane.com
Location: Palazzetto Bru Zane, Venice
Schedule: October 28, 2025
