Francesco Tristano - Bach: The 6 English Suites
(Naïve Records, 2025)
Following his acclaimed recording of the Bach Partitas, pianist Francesco Tristano turns his attention to the composer’s English Suites, BWV 806-811. Bach probably composed these six suites between 1713/14 and 1720. The English Suites are among Bach’s most popular and frequently recorded works, and Tristano’s performances continue his impressive exploration of Bach’s keyboard repertoire.
Technical competence, clarity, and precise articulation characterized Tristano’s interpretations, with minimal pedal use that lent the music energy and freshness. His touch on the Yamaha CFX piano, combined with the instrument’s rich tone and the recording’s dry acoustic, highlights the nuances of both his technique and the piano’s sound. This aids the pianist by affording a spontaneous interpretation that freshens Tristano’s performance.
Tristano integrates baroque ornamentation judiciously into his playing. His use of these methods is precise without being overwrought. The pianist establishes a creative tension that heightens the sense of drama in the suites. His brisk tempos and dynamic emphasis on ornamentation evoke the baroque aesthetic, reminiscent of the ornate qualities of period art.
Tristano’s performance of the suites brims with technical brightness, robust tempos, and the fresh perspective they bring to the Bach repertoire. This is clean, dynamic Bach, particularly when seeking performances that challenge the music with rapid tempos and clear articulation. Tristano’s attention to sound quality and dynamic variation aligns with a baroque approach to phrasing, emphasizing the rhetorical gestures in the music. Tristano’s performances are interesting and provide a contemporary reading of Bach’s English Suites.