“Bach as you’ve never
heard before” is perhaps a bit of a ham-fisted overstatement for this actually
quite delicate and faithful interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Francesco Tristano leaves the Bach itself largely untouched and executes the score with a
traditional modest flair. The contemporary touch actually comes from the
accompanying dynamic geometric visuals, produced by Federico Nitti, generated live,
projected onto a large screen at the back of the RNCM auditorium.This
projection is of a growing architectural structure that builds in counterpoint
to the famous interlocking melodies of Bach’s score. The audiovisual experience
feels incredibly fitting in a modern and developing cosmopolitan Manchester
setting.
The whole thing has a
hypnotic quality. The audience experiences a city built in real time using
Bach’s pitches as building blocks. The nimble piano melodies and considered
geometric projections seem to dance with one another creating, at times, a mesmerising performance. Ultimately however the concept is only partially
followed through. The opening moment with the drone and electronic keyboard is
completely redundant and some of the text used in the imagery is clumsy. It
comes across as an extremely innovative work in progress; unspent potential
however gives way at times to frustration.
Tristano’s Goldberg
City Variations is beautiful, elegant and effortless but the lasting message at
its close is one of future potential. 3D technology, warehouse locations,
unconventional seating arrangements, all these could revolutionise this concept
that Tristano, Pietrogrande and Nitti have started; a truly fresh way of
presenting Bach in a contemporary context.
Tristano is a truly
exciting new contemporary classical artist who has certainly only just begun to
show what he is capable of.
Reviewer - Oscar Lister
on - 2/10/18
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