The Trossingen-based Foundation of International Accordion Exchange (FIAE), which aims to promote young, talented accordion players and promote accordion music in the classical field, hosted two concerts in Merano, Italy, at the Merano Academy on March 28th and the Palais Mamming on March 29th, 2025.

Both venues are characterized by a unique ambiance and convey a unique concert atmosphere to the audience. The association was originally founded in the summer of 2017 to enable Serbian student Vanja Cirkovic to study in Germany.

In the first concert, the Duo Due Bellini (Salvo La Ferrera, accordion; Ralf Ritscher, saxophone) captivated the audience with a unique blend of tradition and innovation. With a refined musical approach and deep artistic flair, the two musicians explore a repertoire ranging from jazz to Mediterranean music, enriched by bold and captivating interpretations. In a creative and intense dialogue, accordion and saxophone intertwine perfectly, creating intimate, atmospheric soundscapes.

Manuela Glock opened the second concert with works by Jean-Philippe Rameau (Les Tendres Plaintes, L’entretien des Muses, Gavotte et Six Doubles), demonstrating a keen sensitivity for the Baroque composer’s soundscape.

The quartet “Musica in Fiore” consists of Michael Ziegler, Juliana Kraus, Nils Aebersold, and Karla Gvozden (all with Andreas Nebl) and, by combining classical music (works by Mahler, Dmitri Shostakovich, and an original composition by Kölz) with the modern accordion sound, creates a unique sound experience and highly contemporary reinterpretations: faithful to the original score – new in instrumentation.

Vanja Cirkovic expressed her gratitude for the trust of the FIAE officials and the resulting opportunities for her artistic development with impressive interpretations of Nordheim’s “Flashing” and Rameau’s “Les Sauvages.”

Italian soprano Giorgiana Pelliccia and “Musica in Fiore” concluded the highly atmospheric concert evening with works by Joaquin Rodrigo (“4 Songs”) and Georges Bizet (“Habanera” from Carmen).