From October 4 to 12, Tallinn, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (Tallinn, Estonia) will host the 4th ACCORDIONF[est], expanding the boundaries of classical accordion music, featuring ten diverse concerts in various locations around the capital.

This year’s festival theme is “Myths and Tales.” Throughout the week, audiences can enjoy the visions of Estonian composers (Erkki-Sven Tüür, Helena Tulve, Hando Põldmäe) on accordion music, as well as intriguing sound palettes from other parts of Europe.

The concert program will showcase the accordion not only as a vibrant solo instrument but also as a flexible stage partner, blending its versatile sounds with those of the kannel, violin, viola, double bass, and cello. The artistic director of Accordionfest is the Serbian accordionist Momir Novakovic, with Henri Zibo as the main producer and Mikk Langeproon overseeing the educational aspects.

Since its inception in 2021, the festival’s aim has been to introduce and popularize the classical accordion as an independent concert instrument while broadening the audience’s horizons. An important objective is to involve young Estonian accordionists, igniting interest through high-level concerts and masterclasses led by experienced instructors.

Each year, new works for accordion are presented, and this time is no exception, featuring music from both local and Serbian composers. Concerts will take place in Hopneri Maja, Poska Maja, Fotografiska, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Kadriorg Art Museum, Kinomaja, and Studio 1 at Raadiomaja – each venue telling new stories, showcasing the classical accordion from various angles, and breaking myths associated with the instrument.

The week-long festival has an international dimension, as from October 7 to 11, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre will host an Erasmus+ BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) masterclass titled “Crossing Bellows,” where young musicians from Estonia, Finland, Poland, Germany, and Spain will meet.

The masterclasses will feature lectures by Andreas Borregaard (Denmark), Luka Lopicic (Serbia), Veli Kujala (Finland), Mateja Zenzerovic (Spain), Paweł Zagańczyk (Poland), Ander Telleria (Spain) & Momir Novakovic (Estonia).

As a special opportunity, all concerts at this year’s festival will be free of charge. For some events, the organizers recommend reserving seats in advance to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Visit their website for more information.