Canillo Launches First Accordion Day with Strong Turnout

Canillo hosted its first Accordion Day on Saturday, drawing an average of 50 to 60 spectators per concert across four outdoor performances in emblematic parish locations. The event, organised by Escola Harmonia and the Canillo commune's Department of Culture and Traditions, exceeded expectations with strong public turnout and artistic quality, prompting organisers to plan a second edition next year.

Performances transformed public spaces into open-air stages, featuring local Andorran acts alongside international groups. The day opened at noon in Plaça de Santa Creu with the Paris-Moscow duo—Dominique Emorine and Roman Jvanov—presenting a mix of French and Russian pieces. At 3:30pm in Plaça del Pui, the Llera duo of Pilar Planavila and Manel López-Besa took the stage, followed by the Andorran Concertina duo—Eugenia Correia and Joel Martins—at 5:30pm. The 7pm slot at Prat del Riu featured Flors per a Matilde, with Aran Sala and Helena Capdevila.

The evening concluded at 9pm in the Sella car park with a performance by the Zero Sette Acordeoi Orkestra from Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country.

Cristel Torres, the commune's councillor for Culture and Traditions, praised the accordion's versatility. She noted that it can sound "classic and elegant, but also festive and popular," which the event aimed to showcase. The positive response, combined with the chance to discover Canillo's spaces through music, has solidified plans to integrate the festival into the parish's cultural calendar.