Francesco Tristano Schlimé
Francesco Tristano Schlimé is an accomplished young pianist whose work displays extraordinary depth and maturity. He is the winner of the Grand Prize of the 2004 Orléans (France) International Piano Competition of 20th Century Music, and recipient of three other honors awarded by this prestigious competition. Schlimé is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York, where he earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music.
Schlimé made his United States debut in 2000 with conductor Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra. He has since performed under the batons of George Octors, Janos Fürst, Ivan Denesz and Joel Sachs, been guest soloist at numerous festivals, and appeared in concert and recital in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. He founded the New Bach Players in 2001, and performs with the chamber ensemble as both soloist and conductor, including for a 2004 recording of the complete cycle of Bach's keyboard concertos.
Schlimé has been composing since childhood. His Sonnet for viola and cello and a transcription of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for piano and orchestra are examples of compositions in the classical style. Inspired as well by contemporary genres, Schlimé has written jazz works for solo piano and jazz ensembles. He also explores his interest in improvisation in small-venue performances, often with pianist Rami Khalifé, and with soloists of the Russian National Orchestra.
Born in Luxembourg in 1981, Francesco Schlimé attended conservatories in Brussels, Paris and Luxembourg before entering Juilliard. He continues to study with Mikhail Pletnev and pianist Bruce Brubaker.
Schlimé's debut recording on PentaTone Classics (Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 and Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 5), with Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra, will be recorded in spring 2005.