Saxophonist Steven Banks and the Sejong Soloists in an outstanding world premiere – Seen and Heard Worldwide

world-flags-shortcode">world-flags" id="wf-439131">United States Numerous, ‘Sejong Right here & Now ComPetition’: Steven Banks (saxophone), Sejong Soloists / Hanna von Wiehler (conductor). Zankel Corridor, New York, 17.5.2024. (DS)

J. S. Bach – Brandenburg Live performance No.4 in G main
Augusta Learn Thomas – Haemosu’s Celestial Chariot Journey: Concerto for Saxophone & Orchestra (world premiere)
Tchaikovsky – Serenade for Strings in C main

A saxophone solo is probably not what one sometimes expects to listen to sandwiched between a Bach Brandenburg Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. However what a fortunate factor for the viewers when it’s Steven Banks performing a brand new work composed particularly for him. Actually, composers ought to be lining as much as write works for Banks, simply as August Learn Thomas has finished with Haemosu’s Celestial Chariot Journey.

Banks performs saxophone in what I can solely describe because the platonic ideally suited of this brass instrument’s soundscape – a heavenly musical expertise. Banks has a riveting presence and blew me away with all the things he dropped at the stage: charismatic confidence, technical flawlessness, adventurous phrasing, unbelievably candy tones and notes of deep musculature held with close to infinite size. It appeared that he should have had an oxygen tank hooked up to him someplace out of view.

Thomas’s concerto was commissioned by the Sejong Soloists and carried out by Hanna von Wiehler. It’s based mostly on Korean mythology with every of the six actions taking inspiration from Korean sijo poems on the matters of solar, jewels, bells, cranes dancing and the like. Thomas is one among my favourite American composers, and she or he invariably creates a chunk that engages a listener of any musical stage with out jeopardizing the inventive spine of her composition. There’s something indubitably American and democratic to her fashion that met effectively with Banks’s earnest strategy to expressiveness.

The vitality of the evening was equally as a result of Sejong Soloists – an apt identify, certainly. All of the Gamers mesh with fantastically coordinated ensemble work they usually do, the truth is, play like one soloist. The Brandenburg Concerto No.4, led by Stephen Kim within the violin solo, was a successful efficiency wherein their spectacular tempi not at all sacrificed magnetic emotional content material.

The night ended with a sweeping Serenade for Strings by Tchaikovsky that was a reminder of the piece’s magnificence. The viola part’s contribution was notably noteworthy within the strong interpretation of this viewers favourite.

It’s the group’s eager skill to stay to their agreed-upon interpretation that makes Sejong Soloists so gratifying. They’ve a 100% purchase in, and we hear it. They’ll take an viewers to the end line with satisfaction, they usually carry their visitor musicians together with simply as a lot success.

Daniele Sahr