What it is

The accomplished accordionist Djordje Gajic brings the piano accordion to the concert platform at the Victoria International Arts Festival (VIAF) in Gozo on Wednesday 8 July 2026, with a programme that reveals the instrument's astonishing range. He opens with Bach's mighty Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 (in his own arrangement), follows with Scarlatti keyboard sonatas, the Soviet-era composer Vladislav Zolotaryov's Sonata no. 2, and Isaac Albeniz's Spanish evergreens Cordoba and Asturias (Leyenda), before lighter pieces such as Yuri Dranga's Seagull - a journey from baroque grandeur to Spanish colour and folk brilliance. It is a real ear-opener. Many people know the accordion only from folk and street music, but in the hands of a concert artist it becomes a full, organ-like instrument capable of Bach's counterpoint, Scarlatti's sparkle and the sweep of Albeniz's guitar-inspired writing. Hearing the Toccata and Fugue or Asturias on the piano accordion is both familiar and completely fresh, and the programme is chosen to delight newcomers as much as connoisseurs. Djordje Gajic is a highly regarded accordionist with a distinguished international career as a soloist and chamber musician, and an advocate for the instrument's serious classical repertoire. To hear playing of that calibre, for free, in a Gozitan church or hall, is one of the quiet pleasures of the VIAF programme. The recital is part of VIAF, Malta's longest-running festival of its kind - five uninterrupted weeks of orchestral, choral and chamber music in Gozo between June and July, where every concert is free of charge. That sustained generosity has made VIAF a treasured fixture for music lovers and a genuine reason to visit Gozo in early summer. Its recitals, in the intimate acoustics of Victoria's churches and historic halls, are an ideal setting for the accordion's rich, resonant sound. For a visitor, a free evening of Bach, Scarlatti and Albeniz on the piano accordion, in a historic Gozitan setting, is exactly the kind of distinctive cultural encounter that gives a summer trip depth - unusual enough to be a talking point and beautiful enough to win anyone over. VIAF's venues are among Victoria's finest spaces, from the grand St George's Basilica to Teatru Astra and other churches around the historic centre. A few practical points. Getting to Gozo means the ferry from Cirkewwa in northern Malta to Mgarr, then a short bus ride or taxi up to Victoria in the centre of the island; if you are coming over for an evening concert, check the last ferry back or plan to stay on Gozo. Because VIAF concerts are free and unticketed, seating is first come, first served, so arrive in good time. Dress comfortably for a warm summer evening, and consider an earlier wander around Victoria's Citadel and squares before the concert. Turning the humble accordion into a vehicle for Bach and Albeniz, the Piano Accordion Recital is one of the most surprising and enjoyable concerts of the VIAF season - free, intimate and full of character. For the curious traveller, it is a memorable evening and a genuine discovery. Check viaf.org.mt for the concert's exact venue and start time before you go.

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