Return visit of astonishing accordion player

When Djordje Gajic – pronounced Georgie Guy-ic – played in Brodick Hall last year, heavy snow meant that the audience was small. A lot of people regretted that they had missed it, specially when those who had been there were going into such raptures about the extraordinary evening they had enjoyed. As a result, the Music Society has asked him back, and he will be appearing in Brodick Hall on Saturday, 19th  February. If you’ve ever thought the accordion is simply a background to the goings-on in some smoky old French café, you are in for a big surprise. Djorje plays a huge, beautiful, glossy black instrument hand-made in Italy that can do the most astonishing things. It can sound like a church organ – specially when he plunges unexpectedly into the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. You know the one – it starts high, then comes cascading down. Tiddle-deeeeee … (pause) …  tee tiddledy oooooooh – dah. Then great, sustained chords come climbing slowly up again (in wonderful sevenths, for anyone of a jazz turn of mind) to a big celebration then gets going on the intricate fugue-y bit. In Scarlatti, by complete contrast, the accordion sounds light and delicate. In Albeniz it has all the voluptuous richness of Spain, and Mozart can be as playful as a young boy in Vienna dancing to the strains of a hurdy-gurdy. This is music played by an outstanding virtuoso, and several people who heard Djordje said it was the most astonishing musical experience they had ever had.

Hungarian by birth, Djordje Gajic began his musical studies in Yugoslavia when he was only six years old, and finally graduated from the Russian Academy of Music in 1993 with a Masters degree and a special accolade as ‘Solo Performer’. He has won many international competitions and has given countless recitals, in every country in Europe. He now lives in Glasgow with his wife and two young sons, and is in high demand for appearances at festivals and concerts.

On February 19th, Djordje is bringing his family to Arran, and as a special bonus, his wife, Andrea, who is an accomplished violinist, may join him for one or two numbers. It is impossible to convey the extraordinary quality that rocked the audience at last year’s concert, but please, please, don’t miss this. The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets at the door, and anyone of school age gets in free.