Francesco Tristano leads a multifaceted career as a pianist and composer, delving into classical and jazz works, as well as techno and experimental electronic music.
He was born in Luxembourg City on September 16, 1981. He began playing the piano from age five, and at 13 gave his first public performance, playing his own works. Tristano studied at the Luxembourg and Paris conservatories and also at major music academies in Riga and Brussels. He relocated to New York City in 1998 to attend Juilliard.
As a classical artist, he is often associated with baroque music, particularly compositions by J.S. Bach, as well as Buxtehude, Frescobaldi, and Vivaldi. However, Tristano is equally at home in contemporary and avant-garde music, regularly performing works by Berio, Cage, and Stravinsky, in addition to his own compositions.
He has written both classical and jazz works, many in collaboration with pianist/composer Rami Khalifé.