Xenon Saxophone Quartet & Sergey Markin - Symphonic Dances (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Intensity of feeling and drama, joy of playing and energy: on its second album Symphonic Dances, the Cologne-based Xenon Saxophone Quartet presents a rich palette of emotions and a different facet of musical expression with each work. In the eponymous Symphonic Dances by Rachmaninoff, in which the quartet is expanded to include the pianist Sergey Markin, the five play to the full the "Russian soul" of Rachmaninoff. Their recording of Franck's Prélude, Fugue et Variation brings the almost mystical character of the work to life, and in Ligeti's Six Bagatelles, their profound avant-garde modernity becomes clear. The recordings are based on Franck and Rachmaninoff's new arrangements. In its arrangement of Rachmaninoff's late romantic Symphonic Dances, an outstanding work of orchestral literature for saxophone, which the composer himself arranged for two pianos, the ensemble succeeds in translating the power and emotional intensity of the orchestral original into its chamber music version. In Franck's version, the Xenon Quartet takes its cue from his version for organ and translates it almost word for word for saxophones, but expands it to include dynamics and sound developments that are difficult to achieve on an organ. Ligeti's Six Bagatelles are recorded in Fabian Oehrli's well-known arrangement, authorized by the composer. In their passionate passages, the Xenon Saxophone Quartet confidently and captivatingly tests the limits of ensemble playing.

Tracklist:
01. Rachmaninov- Symphonic Dances, Op. 45- I. (Non) Allegro
02. Rachmaninov- Symphonic Dances, Op. 45- II. Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
03. Rachmaninov- Symphonic Dances, Op. 45- III. Lento assai – Allegro vivace
04. Franck- Prélude, Fugue et Variation, Op. 18- I. Prélude
05. Franck- Prélude, Fugue et Variation, Op. 18- 2. Lent, Fugue, Variation (Andantino)
06. Ligeti- Six bagatelles- I. Allegro con spirito
07. Ligeti- Six bagatelles- 2. Rubato – Lamentoso
08. Ligeti- Six bagatelles- 3. Allegro grazioso
09. Ligeti- Six bagatelles- 4. Presto ruvido
10. Ligeti- Six bagatelles- 5. Adagio. Mesto (Béla Bartók in memoriam)
11. Ligeti- Six bagatelles- 6. Molto vivace – Capriccioso


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