Pietro Roffi  |  Accordionist & Composer  |  Italy

Pietro Roffis takes on a dual role at our festival “Piazzolla Reloaded”: as a composer and as a performer on stage. His composition “Quasi un Tango” won over the jury at the 2026 ASTOR PIAZZOLLA International Competition. He will now give the world premiere of this award-winning work himself at the Philharmonie Berlin. He writes of his piece:

“Quasi un Tango” is a tribute to Tango and to its most undisputed genius, Astor Piazzolla. Rather than adhering to a predetermined form, the piece seeks to move through its inner atmosphere, the tension of gesture, the suspension of breath, and a certain restless elegance. The title itself alludes to this sense of closeness, to this pull toward a clearly recognizable sound world that is never embraced in a literal way. Ultimately, it is my own way of seeing tango today. (Pietro Roffi)

As a sought-after film composer, Pietro Roffi has written numerous soundtracks for Italian and international productions. His compositions are performed worldwide. An extensive concert career has also taken him to solo performances, concerts with chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras across five continents – with a repertoire ranging from classical music to tango, his own compositions and film music. 

As a passionate teacher, arranger and author of transcriptions, Pietro Roffi is actively contributing to the development of a new Italian accordion school and nurturing an up-and-coming generation of young talent.

Photo: Daniele Raffaelli / Blue Mirror