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Alice Sara Ott & Francesco Tristano: Two Pianos

We’re treated to the intimate music-making and sonic dazzle of this celebrated piano duo in a joyous selection of French music and works by Tristano himself.

Alice Sara Ott, one of our Resident Artists for Spring/Summer 2024, and the composer-pianist Francesco Tristano have been winning audience’s hearts with their concerts and recordings, called ‘enthralling’ by Bachtrack.

Performing both separately and together in this concert, the pair exchange musical inspirations ranging from Frescobaldi’s baroque delights in his variations on ‘La Folia’ to the austere beauty of Satie and the hypnotic repetitions of Ravel’s Boléro in Tristano’s arrangement, which ‘drives to its climax in a wild torrent of clusters and glissandi’ in the words of The Guardian.

Alongside all of this, the two pianists showcase Tristano’s original music, which features spare and spacious writing that effortlessly cuts through across multiple genres and borrows ‘the loops and layers of deep house’ (The Guardian).

Performers

Alice Sara Ott piano

Francesco Tristano piano

Repertoire

Francesco Tristano: A Soft Shell Groove for 2 pianos

Francesco Tristano: Serpentina

Francesco Tristano: In the beginning was

Satie: Gymnopédie No.1

Frescobaldi: Partite sopra l'Aria di Folia, F.2.16

Satie: Gnossienne No.3

Francesco Tristano: Toccata

Ravel: Boléro arr. Tristano for 2 pianos

Debussy: Nuages from Nocturnes arr. Ravel for 2 pianos

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 7+
Event information

Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme

For your visit

This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.