Richard Galliano and Tiziano Chiapelli Quintet in Stradella

On Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the Teatro Sociale in Stradella hosts Richard Galliano and the Tiziano Chiapelli Quintet, in a concert celebrating an instrument that is deeply connected with the history of the town: the Stradella accordion.

The concert begins at 9:00 pm and is part of the Festival del Ridotto. The event also celebrates two important anniversaries: 20 years since the reopening of the Teatro Sociale di Stradella and 150 years since the foundation of the historic Dallapè Accordion Factory.

Stradella Accordion: Richard Galliano and Tiziano Chiapelli at Teatro Sociale

The evening brings together Richard Galliano, one of the world's best-known accordionists, and Tiziano Chiapelli, a musician who met Galliano in Stradella and subsequently developed a close friendship with him.

Galliano is a leading figure in contemporary accordion music. Throughout his career, he has explored Brazilian, American and Italian musical traditions. In 1991, he returned to his musical roots, rediscovering musette waltz, java and tango. His career has included recordings for the prestigious German label Deutsche Grammophon.

Tiziano Chiapelli has built a long career through collaborations with musicians including Tullio De Piscopo and Lelio Luttazzi, as well as appearances on Italian national television.

Stradella, the town of the accordion

Talking about the accordion in Stradella means talking about an important part of the town's industrial and cultural history.

In 1876, Mariano Dallapè began producing accordions in Stradella. Over the following decades, the town became one of Italy's main centres for the manufacture of this instrument.

The Mariano Dallapè Civic Accordion Museum preserves instruments, documents and equipment that tell the story of this local tradition and the many workshops and factories that developed in Stradella.

The museum, located at Via Montebello 2, documents in particular the history of the 44 accordion factories that operated in Stradella from 1876 onwards and displays various instruments produced by local manufacturers.

Stradella is therefore closely associated with the history of the accordion, a tradition that has helped make the town known well beyond the Oltrepò Pavese.

150 years of the Dallapè factory

The concert on 28 October has particular significance because 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the historic Dallapè Accordion Factory.

The anniversary and the presence of two renowned accordion musicians create a direct connection between music and Stradella's industrial heritage.

For the town, the accordion is not simply a musical instrument. It is part of its cultural identity and manufacturing history, linked to generations of craftspeople and specialist workshops.

Teatro Sociale di Stradella celebrates 20 years since its reopening

The concert by Richard Galliano and the Tiziano Chiapelli Quintet also marks 20 years since the reopening of the Teatro Sociale di Stradella.

Located at Vicolo Faravelli 2, the theatre is one of the cultural venues of the Oltrepò Pavese and hosts theatre and music performances as well as the activities of the Accademia del Ridotto, a centre for advanced musical training based inside the theatre.

The concert is part of the Festival del Ridotto 2026, a programme of concerts and workshops organised by the Accademia del Ridotto.

What to see in Stradella before the concert

The concert can be an opportunity to spend a few hours exploring Stradella and the Oltrepò Pavese.

For those interested in discovering the history of the instrument featured in the concert, a visit to the Mariano Dallapè Civic Accordion Museum is a natural choice. The museum displays instruments, photographs, documents and equipment from the town's historic workshops.

In the centre of Stradella, visitors can also see the Civic Tower, one of the town's landmarks. Beyond the town, the hills of the Oltrepò Pavese stretch out with vineyards and small villages.

A visit to Stradella can therefore combine music, accordion heritage, local culture and the landscape of the Oltrepò Pavese.

Richard Galliano and Tiziano Chiapelli Quintet: useful information

Event: Richard Galliano – Tiziano Chiapelli Quintet
Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Time: 9:00 pm
Venue: Teatro Sociale di Stradella, Vicolo Faravelli 2, Stradella (PV)
Series: Festival del Ridotto 2026
Occasion: 20th anniversary of the reopening of Teatro Sociale and 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Dallapè Accordion Factory

Teatro Sociale box office: the physical box office is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and Saturday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, as well as one hour before performances. Tickets are also available online.

An evening celebrating the Stradella accordion

The concert by Richard Galliano and Tiziano Chiapelli is an event connecting contemporary music with the history of a town that has made the accordion one of its defining symbols.

In the 150th anniversary year of Dallapè's production, hearing two leading accordion musicians in Stradella creates a link between the historic workshops, the heritage preserved in the Accordion Museum and the music that continues to bring this instrument to audiences around the world.

For visitors to the Oltrepò Pavese, 28 October 2026 is therefore an opportunity to discover one of the area's distinctive cultural stories and attend a concert at the Teatro Sociale di Stradella.