Cluster Trio, music from all times and places

This article is dedicated to all those who, like myself, had always thought that tango music could only be played by the bandoneón. But also for those who believe the accordion is suitable only for the folk genre, and out of place with the 'nobler' types of music, such as the ones performed by complete orchestras. Cluster Trio (a 'cluster' is the effect obtained when a number of adjacent keys on the piano are pressed simultaneously), who performed last September in the concert Tango and Beyond (organised by Danze Veneto Orientale and Ballet Studio of San Donà di Piave), is a real surprise.

The group is held together the professional expertise of three outstanding musicians: Michelangelo Stregapede, is from Venice and has a diploma in piano from the Conservatory B. Marcello of Venice. Stregapede was solo player at the national radio orchestra of Bucharest, and at the G. Cantelli Orchestra of Milan; Fabio Rossato, an accordion player from Padua, is one of the best masters of this instrument in the world, with numerous awards to his credit; Fulvio Furlanut, also from Padua, has a diploma in violin from C. Pollini Conservatory of Padua. Furlanut was formerly first violin at the Toscanini Orchestra of Parma, and is currently employed on a stable basis with the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale of Bologna.

When hearing them, one is first struck by the great talent demonstrated by the three musicians, but then one is gradually transported into a world where every conceivable musical combination becomes possible. This is at once clear after a first look at the selection of the pieces chosen for their performances. Tango and Beyond, for example, means exactly what it says: after a preamble of tango music from Piazzolla and Villoldo, the Trio continues to surprise and enchant the audience with Hungarian Dances by Brahms, Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers and Tarantella, and Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. Tango music is, however, recurrent throughout the whole repertoire in strategic places, as in the Romance de Barrio by Troilo, the unforgettable Cumparsita, and then once again in another memorable piece by Piazzolla. In all this the primary ingredient, the 'trade mark' of the group is the professional style characterising the arrangements. One asks how such a small formation of only three instruments is able to produce such a rich, sonorous and varied mix of seemingly incompatible genres, and yet still give the effect of an organically unified repertoire. It must be recognised that only an accordion virtuoso can worthily perform Piazzolla, and that one needs perfect control of the art form to perform Rossini with just three instruments!

Cluster Trio made its first debut as a quintet in 2001, but gradually evolved to a  trio formation, a more agile and easily 'transportable' formation. Despite the limited number of instruments, special care taken in the arrangements and accomplished team work confers great balance to their music. Their first CD has only just recently come out, a recording from a live performance. Their vast repertoire, from the Argentine dance to the Café Concert, from Kletzmer to 20th century music will again be performed on December 2 at the Palasport of San Donà, and on December 7 at Sarzana (La Spezia) in the historic café Il Loggiato Gemmi. A programme schedule, live video and general information are obtainable at www.clustertrio.com.