Paulsson´s Aho CD receives highest possible score: 10/10/10
Paulsson´s Aho CD receives highest possible score: 10/10/10
http://www.klassik-heute.de/4daction/www_medien_einzeln?id=22406
“Paulsson as a soloist confidently holds together the slowly increasing drama in a sovereign way.” https://nordische-musik.de/
"In 2014-15 Aho wrote a concerto for soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra for Swedish saxophonist Anders Paulsson, who recently played the posthumous premiere of the soprano saxophone version of Anders Eliasson's Grand Third Symphony. This concerto shines with intense exploration of structurally and atmospherically strong contrasting episodes. It begins with an expressive solo singing accompanied by atmospheric sound in an oriental-like manner, including micro-intervals and glissandi coloring, and then turns into a wild Presto. This is followed by an introspective Largo of 'Misterioso' character and a turbulent-bizarre, even polytonal humorous finale, which ends in an epilogue, which draws the bow back to the beginning. Anders Paulsson is as flawless as the Rovaniemi Lapland Chamber Orchestra under its longtime director John Storgårds."
Christoph Schlüren [28.12.2017] KLASSIK_HEUTE
Kalevi Aho Soprano Saxophone Concerto recording with Lapland Chamber Orchestra conducted by John Storgårds is now available for studio quality download:
http://www.eclassical.com/aho-saxophone-concerto-and-quintet.html
Classical CD review:The Kalevi Aho Concerto for soprano sax, created for – and played here by – Anders Paulsson. This new work combines virtuosity with a more thoughtful, somewhat mellow character. And, as so often with Aho, head isn’t pursued at the expense of heart. Indeed, there’s plenty of the latter in Paulsson’s account of the taxing, yet extraordinarily expressive solo part. Goodness, I haven’t heard such accomplished, sure-footed playing since Branford Marsalis in American Spectrum and Massimo Giacchetti in Between Two Worlds. (Both were Recordings of the Month.)
musicweb-international.com
Classical CD review
A great new concerto for soprano saxophone and chamber orchestra by Kalevi Aho:"The work is devoted to Anders Paulsson, whose delicate, ECM-style interpretation style has guided the concerto. Paulsson is loaded with all the necessary intensity and he carries the melodies gloriously. He also realizes multiplayer features chordically and naturally. It is probably thanks also to Aho, who is always familiar with the solo instruments.The role of the Chamber Orchestra in the concertois to create mysterious shades of watercolors and to engage in dialogue with bright secco solos, and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra does really well."
-Kare Eskola, Yle Klassinen, October 6, 2017
"The playing is expressive and replete with nuances of dynamics and tone color"
Fanfare
"This is an effective and inspired work that will be a welcome addition to this repertoire"
American Record Guide
"If you enjoy Debussy´s aesthetic, you will fall in love with the music of Kalevi Aho. He works in soft pastels rather than bright primary colors, his orchestration is delicate, his mode of development logical but based on whole-tone scales and chromatics. It´s just plain good, interesting music!"
Art Music Lounge
“Anders Paulsson has developed Soprano Saxophone playing to an unprecedented, sensational top level!”
- Kalevi Aho, Finnish Composer, October 4, 2017Cher Anders,
J’ai reçu ce matin ton dernier disque. Je viens de l’écouter. Il est magnifique ! L’œuvre me plait beaucoup et j’apprécie à l’extrême ce que tu en fais. Je suis fier de toi ! C’est comme toujours impeccable, et tu entretiens la poésie de cette belle œuvre de la première à la dernière note. Oui ! C’est superbe d’intelligence musicale, de compréhension, de maîtrise de jeu, de beauté de son.
Je suis heureux d’avoir cet enregistrement. Merci de me l’avoir fait connaître.
Jean-Marie LONDEIX
Legendary French Saxophone Professor
September 13, 2017
