Trio piano tango stirs souls, gets hearts racing at the Palace of Fine Arts
By Bruce Bellingham

Dancing is the latest American rage because of the success of Dancing with the Stars and PBS’s programs on ballroom dancing, but it’s the tango that always gets the most attention.

Ted Viviani, the producer of Extreme Tango, has created a new dimension to the tango experience with his new show, Tango x 3, the second phase of his Tango Trilogy. It will be performed at the Palace of Fine Arts this month, Friday, Aug. 15 through Sunday, Aug. 17.

“Tango is about breaking the rules,” explains Viviani. “In Tango x 3  we are doing something unprecedented in bringing three world-class pianists together for one evening of unequalled musical exploration.”

San Francisco is a good place to break the rules.

Tango x 3 will be the first time three pianists have ever performed tango music together in a full concert format playing solos, duets and trios. The artists in this world premier include two-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto from Brazil, recording artist and cultural ambassador Polly Ferman from Uruguay, and Erika Nickrenz of the wildly popular two-time Grammy-nominated Eroica Trio. 

Special performances include the world premiere of two new pieces for three pianos from tango legend Daniel Binelli as well as a piece composed and performed by Neto himself. Also featured in the program will be two- to three- piece suites for piano duet composed by Pablo Ziegler. One of San Francisco’s leading tango dancers and instructor, Christy Cote, and her partner Darren Lees will perform several dances as guest artists. The program benefits the San Francisco Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. 

Tango x 3: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St. (at Bay); Friday & Saturday, Aug. 15-16, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 17, 2 p.m .& 7 p.m. Tickets $20-$50 (discounts available) at www.cityboxoffice.com or 415-392-4400; for more information visit www.xtango-sf.com