Adolphe Sax - The Father of the Saxophone

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the 200 th birth anniversary of the inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax with an evening concert series. Adolphe Sax was a Belgian instrument maker, a flutist and clarinetist. Besides developing important improvements to the clarinet and other wind instruments, he invented the saxophone in 1842. His invention was ridiculed by conservative critics, but enthusiastically supported by Hector Berlioz and few other open- minded musicians.

With polish conductor Maciej Zoltowski and soloist Theodore Kerkezos (saxophone) we will have the opportunity to enjoy two works of the 20 th century for saxophone and orchestra: the Ballade for alto saxophone, strings, piano and percussion by Frank Martin and the Cretan Concertino for alto saxophone and orchestra by Mikis Theodorakis. The Swiss composer Frank Martin wrote the Ballade n in 1938, initiating a series of ballads for solo instruments accompanied by a piano or a chamber orchestra. The Cretan Concertino for alto saxophone and orchestra is an arrangement of Theodorakis’ Sonatina for violin and piano no 1 (1952), written by Yiannis Sambrovalakis (a musicologist and clarinetist) in 2005, for the virtuoso saxophonist Theodore Kerkezos, the soloist of our concert. Motives of Cretan folk music are heard in all three movements.

At the concerts we will also enjoy the work Die schoene Melusine, (The fair Melusina) by Felix Mendelssohn. The work is based on a legend that dates back many centuries and appears in many variations. It is about a mermaid who marries a man of nobility, whose name in one variation is Lusignan (the name of the French kings of Cyprus). Her request was that her husband never asks where she goes on Saturdays, as that was the day she has to transform into her original mermaid form. Lusignan's curiosity does not allow him to keep his promise, and the couple' s happiness is lost forever. Finally we will hear the Symphony in D major by Spanish composer Juan Crisostomo Arriaga His Symphony in D major is the only symphony that he composed and one of his last works.

The concerts will take place as follows:
Larnaka: Thursday 10 April 2014, Municipal Theatre, 20:30
Nicosia: Friday 11 April 2014, Pallas Theatre, Paphos Gate, 20:30

Tickets available at the Theatres’ box office (Tel. 24665794, 22410181)

€12 and €7 (18-26 years old and pensioners)
Free entrance for children under 18 years old

Information: 22 463144, www.cyso.org.cy