Italian Saxophone Quartet
Saturday
October 12, 2013
7:30 p.m.
“Never before have I heard anything quite as wonderful!”
--- Joe Harnell,
four-time Grammy winning composer
The Italian Saxophone Quartet was founded by four close friends determined to join together to perform chamber music for saxophone at the very highest artistic level. They have played to wide acclaim in more than 500 concerts in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Japan, USA, Sweden, Lebanon, Bermuda and Russia.
True virtuosos, the Quartet sweeps listeners off their feet. Formed in 1982 by four of the most established soloists in their field, the group consists of Federico Mondelci (soprano sax), Marco Gerboni (alto sax), Mario Marzi (tenor sax) and Massimo Mazzoni (baritone sax). The group has won several chamber music competitions, were awarded first prize in the “Premier Ancona” by Gof-fredo Petrassi, and played in major concert halls throughout Italy, Europe, Russian and the United States.
With creative interpretations of multiple genres of music that have received special recognition, the Italian Quartet delights the hearts of contemporary and classical music lovers around the world.
“A perfect ensemble . . . spectacular . . . sure to be talked about.””
– Gazzetta del Sud
Links:
Held at the Trapp Auditorium
Buy a membership now.
Individual Biographies:
Federico Mondelci has appeared as soloist with all the important Italian orchestras, including La Scala Milan, conducted by Seiji Ozawa. He has toured world-wide as soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. In the World Saxophone Congress, he has performed in Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy and the States. His CD of Piazzolla Tangos with Moscow Chamber Orchestra on has received great critical acclaim; another CD for RCA was the recipient of the “Diapason d'Or” medal.
Marco Gerboni has won several prestigious prizes, including first prize in the “Premier Ancona.” He has collaborated with many major Italian orchestras, including La Scala, Milan and the Florence Maggio Musicale. Gerboni has twice represented Italy at the World Saxophone Congress and has performed worldwide. His recordings include discs for EMI and Mondo Musica.
Mario Marzi is a chef famous for his carrot cake; he is also a great soccer player and top goal-scorer. In his spare time, as a saxophone player, he has won nine national and four international competitions and performed with Italy’s most important orchestras. He worked for twenty years with the Teatro alla Scala and with the Filarmonica della Scala under the baton of today’s leading conductors: Carlo Maria Giulini, Lorin Maazel, Luciano Berio, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Semyon Bychkov, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Gustavo Dudamel, and Claudio Abbado. His CD of the major saxophone concertos, and a book on the saxophone, were recently released.
Massimo Mazzoni has worked with many important orchestras throughout Italy, frequently as soloist. He represented Italy at several World Saxophone Congresses, including in Germany, USA, Japan and Spain. In addition, Mazzoni was the sole organiser of the 10th Congress, which took place in Italy in 1992 and involved 500 saxophonists. He has made recordings for BMG, Pentaphon, Ricordi etc.
REVIEWS:
Quartet rocks the house [Headline] "A true world-class act . . . It was the total package that wowed the audience. Every note of the evening was exquisite, and this team really knew how to put on a show . . . with a program that spanned the globe and musical styles . . . masters at working the crowd . . . brilliant fingerwork . . . With perfection of style, timing, and showmanship throughout the program, they had us all dancing and frolicking right along with them . . . Bravissimo, maestri!”
Think you don't like saxophone quartets? Oh my, think again! . . . A revelation . . .
knocked me out from the first notes.
CONCERT A SELL-OUT” [Headline] An overwhelming success . . . It was standing-room-only to hear an extraordinary performance by four of the top saxophonists on the international scene. The unsurpassed masters immersed the audience in an indescribable atmosphere . . . Ethereal and sensual sounds alternated with blazing virtuosity . . . The audience was conquered, and entranced, and they exploded in a standing ovation, demanding encore after encore—and were repeatedly satisfied.
Enthusiasm reached stratospheric heights for the Italian Saxophone Quartet . . . seductive and impassioned . . . a scintillating whirlwind of a performance, shifting from muscular sonorities to delicate wisps of sound . . . jaw-dropping virtuosity.
Never before have I heard anything quite as wonderful!”
