About Us
Different bellows, one breath of music.
Four highly educated professional musicians had the idea of combining their experience and knowledge into a unique ensemble of four different accordion sounds, the accordion quartet 4 Bellows 4 Tales.
By performing musical arrangements from baroque to the modern era, they wish to introduce themselves to a wider audience with more than ten different accordions. Button accordions, piano accordions, diatonic accordions, and bandoneons breathe life into various musical genres, which often interwine, as the histories of the accordions used and stories of the performers are different. This creates both traditional and entirely new accordion sound blends.
“Inspiration comes from the air you breathe, from the emotions you feel, from the life you live.”
– Astor Piazzola –
Stefano Bembi
Stefano Bembi is a pianist, accordionist, and organist. He began his musical studies at the age of five, playing the accordion with Glasbena Matica in Triest under the mentorship of prof. Eliana Zajec. Later, in 1987, he graduated with honors in piano at G. Tartini Conservatory in Triest, where he also studied organ and composition. After the graduation, he continued his piano studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Centre des Hautes Etudes Pianistiques – Musici Artis in Brussels.
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Stefano has won numerous national and international competitions, including his triumph at the 30th Competition of the World Confederation of Accordion in Vienna in 1980. He has performed as a soloist in various musical ensembles and bands worldwide. His roles as a pianist, accordionist, actor, singer, composer, and music director have led him to collaborate with theaters such as the Teatro Stabile del Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Slovenian Permanent Theatre in Triest, the Teatro Miela in Triest, and the Teatro Stabile in Catania. He also collaborated also with the »I Virtuosi del Carso« ensemble, the backing band of cabaret artist Paolo Rossi and with the composer N. Piovani, who won Oscar award for his film score for La vita è bella, and has participated in productions at the G. Verdi Theater in Triest.
Zoran Lupinc
Zoran Lupinc (diatonic accordion, plonerca, bass accordion) was educated both as a horn player and as an accordionist. Later, he specialized in playing traditional instruments, with a particular emphasis on the diatonic accordion. In 1987, he achieved an extraordinary feat by becoming the absolute and first world champion in diatonic accordion playing in Attimis.
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Zoran is known for his innovative teaching methods and unique playing style, which have brought him recognition and led to performances in prestigious concert halls, including the Berlin Philharmonic. In 2017, Zoran received the prestigious “F. Gerbič” award for his exceptional achievements in education, musical performance, and teaching. It is worth mentioning that his right-hand imprint is preserved in the International Accordion Museum in Terme Reocaro, Italy, as proof of his significant contribution to the world of accordion music and education. In 2024, at the closing concert of the 27th World Championship for diatonic accordion in Hrpelje, the A.M.I.S.A.D. association awarded him a lifetime achievement recognition.
Maurizio Marchesich
Maurizio Marchesich (bandoneon, button accordion, the »ploner«, bass accordion) graduated in classical accordion and music education at the G. Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro in 1997. He has established himself as a talented composer and conductor, gaining recognition on numerous national and international stages and competitions. His musical repertoire is diverse, ranging from baroque to contemporary music and includes original compositions for accordion and tango. Maurizio is the founder of the Triestango Quintet, a specialized ensemble focused on performing the works of Astor Piazzolla and Tango Nuevo.
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With Triestango Quintet he performed on numerous concerts in Argentina, where he presented himself in recitals and participated in Buenos Aires Tango Festival and released the album »Since Piazzola Triestango«, published by EMI Odeon Argentina. He has demonstrated his musical talents in various countries around the world, including Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Austria, Germany, Brazul, Uruguay, Argentina and United States. He was the guest of honour on the Bellows Lovers Night Festival in Yokohama, Japan. His contributions to the world of accordion music are recognized through his inclusion in several collections of accordion music. He collaborated with opera theater G. Verdi in Triest. Maurizio also serves as a full professor of accordion at the Saint Cyril and Methodius Primary School in Triest, where he shares his knowledge and passion for the accordion with the next generation of musicians.
Imad Saletović
Imad Saletović began studies at age 10 at Sv. Ciril in Metod in Trieste, Italy before advancing formal training at the Conservatorio Tartini di Trieste. During conservatory years, Imad competed in numerous music competitions, gaining valuable experience performing on local stages. Since 2015, Imad has been a dedicated member of the Accordion Orchestra InMusic in Sežana, Slovenia, performing a diverse repertoire across regional and international stages. In 2021, he joined the Accordion Orchestra Alamut, founded in Trieste, Italy, expanding experience with orchestral works. Most recently, in March 2024, Imad became a member of the accordion quartet 4 Bellows 4 Tales, focusing on innovative ensemble repertoire and collaborative artistry.