The news that Maugein, the last accordion manufacturer in France, will cease doing business, raises the question of whether the “box of sobs,” as the French call it, is more Gallic or Jewish in its ...

Ercole Ventura isn’t convinced his name suits him. In Italian, “Ercole” translates to “Hercules.” And at 5-foot-8 and average weight, Ercole said, he can’t compare to the mythic figure. “I just don’t ...

The hum of an accordion might transport you to the streets of Paris or a drafty Italian restaurant with red and white checkered tablecloths and candles stuck in Chianti bottles. Maybe polka comes to ...

Think of Italy, and you think of food, wine, cheese, and football. For Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, music is added to the list. Growing up in Atessa, in Southeastern Italy, it was part of the family.

The accordion is gaining worldwide popularity. Germany has declared it the instrument of the year for 2026. This all-rounder is used across various genres, from tango to heavy metal. Accordionist ...