4 Bellows 4 Tales

4 Bellows 4 Tales brings together musicians from diverse performance and aesthetic backgrounds. The ensemble comprises Stefano Bembi, a pianist, accordionist and organist with an extensive solo and theatre career and numerous international awards; Zoran Lupinc, a specialist in the diatonic accordion and a recipient of the Fran Gerbič Prize; Maurizio Marchesich, accordionist, composer, conductor and founder of the Triestango ensemble, closely associated with the tango tradition; and Imad Saletović, who is active in major accordion ensembles and has been a member of the quartet since 2024. Together they form a colourful and dynamic ensemble that, using a wide range of accordions – from the bandoneon and button accordion to the triestina (also known as the “Ploner”, after its original maker) and bass accordion – explores a broad stylistic spectrum from early music to the present day, interweaving tradition with new sonic and expressive possibilities.

The programme takes listeners on a varied musical journey, beginning in the Baroque with a famous air by Johann Sebastian Bach and continuing with Aldo Kumar’s Istrian Suite and David Clodig’s Silent Evening. It also includes the Slovene folk song Moon in an arrangement by Aleksander Vodopivec, followed by Mozart’s Fantasia in F minor and Puccini’s Crisantemi, a piece originally written for string quartet. The central part of the programme consists of Urban Koder’s Blossoms in Autumn in an arrangement by Vodopivec, after which the focus shifts to 20^th century music with Astor Piazzolla’s Escualo and a potpourri of songs associated with Édith Piaf. The programme continues with Movida by Ivano Battiston and concludes with Four Tales by Klemen Leben.