Signum Saxophone Quartet, Eckart Runge, Alexej Gerassimez & Fedor Rudin - Chameleon (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

What do a saxophone and a chameleon have in common? At first glance: nothing - but on closer inspection: SO MUCH!

The acoustic proof is provided by the SIGNUM saxophone quartet on their album "Chameleon", which will be released on 12 April on Berlin Classics!

Inspired by the fascinating ability of the chameleon to change its skin colour and communicate with its surroundings, Blaž Kemperle, Jacopo Taddei, Alan Lužar and Guerino Bellarosa present a unique collection of pieces that focus on the versatility and expressiveness of the saxophone.

The four exceptional musicians, who have known each other since their student days, embark on an emotional journey through a wide variety of eras and genres with an equal measure of attachment to music history and unbridled joy in crossing boundaries.

From Joseph Haydn's "Russian Quartets" to Alexander Glasunov's "Quartet for Four Saxophones" and Viet Cuong's modern charge of energy in "Beggar's Lace" to specially arranged versions of the legendary "Pulp Fiction" film score "Misirlou" and AC/DC's rock classic "Thunderstruck": the SIGNUMs demonstrate their masterful virtuosity and unwavering love of music in every single piece.

Once again, they are supported by an exquisite selection of high-ranking guest musicians: cellist Eckart Runge, for example, accompanies the Slovenian-Italian quartet in Ernest Bloch's "Prayer", which expresses the moving melody of a Jewish prayer song, while Alexej Gerassimez on the marimba provides the colourful spice of sound in a special version of Johannes Brahms' "Wiegenlied".

And the interplay with Fedor Rudin on the violin in "Bess you is my woman now" from "Porgy and Bess" makes it clear: the saxophone is even at home in the opera!

"Chameleon" is not just an album: it is an artistic statement that leaves the listener astonished and, in the end, moved and speechless. The message is as simple as it is wonderful: boundaries are there to be overcome!

Tracklist:
1. String Quartet No. 37 B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1 Hob. III:37: I. Allegro Moderato (5:04)
2. String Quartet No. 37 B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1 Hob. III:37: II. Scherzo: Allegro di Molto (2:07)
3. String Quartet No. 37 B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1 Hob. III:37: III. Andante (4:55)
4. String Quartet No. 37 B Minor, Op. 33 No. 1 Hob. III:37: IV. Finale: Presto (3:31)
5. Prayer (4:21)
6. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: I. Allegro (6:16)
7. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: IIa. Canzona varieé. Andante (1:30)
8. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: IIb. Var. 1 - L'istesso Tempo (1:11)
9. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: IIc. Var. 2. Con Anima (1:09)
10. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: IId. Var. 3. À la Schumann. Grave (2:52)
11. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: IIe. Var. 4. À la Chopin. Allegro. (1:58)
12. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: IIf. Var. 5. Scherzo, Presto (1:40)
13. Saxophone Quartet B Major, Op. 109: III. Finale, Allegro Moderato (6:06)
14. Fünf Lieder, Op. 49, No. 4: Wiegenlied (2:36)
15. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (5:28)
16. Prized Possessions: II. Beggar's Lace (5:37)
17. Misirlou (4:00)
18. Thunderstruck (2:55)


Thanks to the Original customer!