Last summer the Luxembourg-born composer returned to Riga after a 26-year hiatus to perform. Tristano describes his emotional return during which he revealed his little-known Riga connection.
"Last summer after 26 years, I had the opportunity to return to Riga, fusing piano and electronics in a live performance. It was an emotional return as i have a hidden connection to this city," said Tristano.
Before studying at the world-famous Juilliard Academy of Music in New York, he spent a year in Riga in 1997 studying at the Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy of Latvia under the guidance of teacher Teofils Biķs. Tristano considers the time spent in Riga to be an important turning point in his career.
The short film Francesco Tristano - My Riga Connection is directed by Viktors Buda, who is known for the
documentary Era of Dance (2017) and has been the author of several music films and other works.
The pianist and composer Francesco Tristano was born in Luxembourg in 1981. He studied at the Luxembourg, Brussels, Riga, and Paris conservatories before graduating from the renowned Julliard School in New York. After graduating from the Juilliard School, Tristano went on to build a successful career and has become one of today's most recognized pianists.
You can watch the full short film above and on YouTube.
