Pannon Philharmonic

Conductor

Korsten Gérard

Born in Pretoria (South Africa), Gérard Korsten began his career as a violinist after studying with Ivan Galamian at the Curtis Institute and with Sándor Végh in Salzburg. Following his studies in the US and Europe he became Concertmaster and Assistant Music Director of the Camerata Salzburg… More

Soloist

Arno Bornkamp

saxophone

ARNO BORNKAMP Dutch saxophonist Arno Bornkamp (1959) is the archetype of the modern virtuoso, feeling equally at home in traditional and contemporary repertoire. Hailed as a lyrical musician with a great sense of performance, Bornkamp studied at the Sweelinck Conservatory… More

About the Programme

The compilation of this concert programme is interesting in several ways. The four pieces to be heard could be categorized in different ways. Two of them are linked by the musical instrument, two by the choice of theme. The works of Tomasi and Milhaud belong to those rarities of classical music in that the saxophone has decisive music roles. Debussy's Iberia and Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony are “documents” of the abroad trips of their composers, acoustic imprints of the impressions and experiences gained there. But in a different kind of reading, Milhaud’s work is related to Mendelssohn’s symphony, as well, since it also guides us to Italy: as its title indicates, it shows a clown character known in the genre of the Italian commedia dell'arte, with musical means. Tomasi, on the other hand, can be brought close to Debussy, who is considered the most important inventor of French music of the 20th century, like Ravel, by his enthusiasm for the French modernity, which was repeatedly said and also expressed in his compositions.