Reviews

"The world-leading classical soprano saxophonist"

“Arguably the best soprano saxophonist on the planet”

“Anders Paulsson was the star of the evening in the Berliner Philharmonie”

”Phenomenal performances of Anders Eliasson’s entrancing music”

“Es folgt die “Celebration Suite” des schwedischen Komponisten Anders Paulsson ‐ eine Hommage an den Freiheitskampf der Anti‐Apartheid‐Bewegung. Afrikanisches Volkslied trifft auf Jazz‐Riffs. Protestlied verbindet sich mit feierlicher Musik. Der 52‐jährige Komponist steht mit seinem Sopransaxophon vor den auf der Stuhlkante sitzenden Musikern und spielt seine in die Partitur eingearbeiteten Soli. Beseelt. Brillant. Beglückend.”

“Starkast lyser solostämman i Anders Eliassons saxofonkonsert; likt ljusstrimmor som leker mot en nattsvart väv”

"An utterly convincing performance with a stunning precision and presence."

"Anders Paulsson performance at the Berliner Philharmonie was soulfully inspired, brilliant and delightful".

“Swedish Concertos for Soprano Saxophone is a splendid recording – a real high”

“An unbeatable soloist”

“Anders Paulsson evince admirable musicianship”

“Goodness, I haven’t heard such accomplished, sure-footed playing since Branford Marsalis in American Spectrum”

“Anders Paulssons affinity for the roots of American music shows in his sure knack for the jazz idiom and his sensitive treatment of classic American spirituals”

“Paulsson’s Bach-playing was like a miracle. The audience went wild.”

“Until You have heard Anders Paulsson, You have not heard the soprano saxophone.”

“The most exciting part of the concert was Paulsson´s masterful playing of the Luciano Berio Sequenza 7. Charged with the most extreme virtuosity and multiphonic possibilities, the performance left the audience breathless.”

“The Swedish guest saxophonist, Anders Paulsson was a brilliant Ambassador for his country. His performance and compositions were beautiful and his engagement with the orchestra wonderful enough to make you want to offer him citizenship.”

“Anders Paulsson bjuder på ett intagande spel. Både artistiskt och som kraftprov är detta imponerande.”

“The sound of Anders Paulssons soprano saxophone has a universal beauty”

“The most innovative sound in a decade.”

"The great Kalevi Aho Concerto is dedicated to Anders Paulsson, whose delicate, ECM-style interpretation style has guided it. Paulsson is loaded with all the necessary intensity and he carries the melodies gloriously."

“The challenges for the soloist in Kalevi Aho’s concerto are numerous and highly difficult but Swede Anders Paulsson- one of the world’s most renowned saxophonists –surpassed all expectations -setting the standard of saxophone playing even higher.”

“Anders Paulsson made an extremely favourable impression. He conjured forth a magnificent sound from his rare instrument and played throughout with presence and brilliance.”

“Soprano saxophonist Anders Paulsson’s playing was outstanding. With virtuosity and depth of feeling he produces a sound from his instrument of which any singer would be proud.”

“Anders Paulsson´s precision, his brilliance, his extraordinary skill, and his obvious love and commitment to the concerto carried it to the finish line with bravura.”

“A champion of the soprano saxophone”

“The combination of saxophone, organ and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is not on the face of it an enticing proposition. But how agreeably the soprano saxophone as played by Anders Paulsson floated through this vast and gloomy space on Sunday evening”

“Superb!”

“The strong moments of this concert were the very expressive saxophone solos by Anders Paulsson. Gifted with exceptional concentration and sensitivity he succeeded in distilling the most demanding sonorities with a natural refinement”

“Nous avons goûté avec bonheur, tout au long de la soirée, la sonorité du saxophone-soprano d’Anders Paulsson, d’une sensualité spirituelle”

"Anders Paulsson, for whom Kalevi Aho wrote the Soprano Saxophone concerto, plays with a fabulous tone and a technique that also makes the most infernal tricks seem completely self-evident."

“Anders Paulsson is a first-class master of his instrument whose free roaming interpretation and controlled sound delights the listener.”

"Anders Paulsson has developed Soprano Saxophone playing to an unprecedented, sensational top level!"

“The most beautiful soprano sax playing I’ve ever heard! A golden warm timbre in an enormous range!”

“Does Anders Paulsson at all understand the meaning of the words `technically difficult´? There seems to be no limits to what he can do with his instrument. Paulsson is the King of the soprano saxophone.”

“Paulsson spelade solostämman med en sådan intensitet och med en sådan nerv att man fullkomligt drogs in i skeendet. Här bjuder solisten in oss med ett mycket vackert, välfraserat spel som är oemotståndligt.”

“Paulsson´s own compositions felt like logical continuations of the music of Ellington and Gershwin. Younger, with more weight and agitation yet with the same basic confidence”

“In spite of incredibly good performances by the other soloists they all faded when Paulsson´s sound captured the hall”

“The most discriminating listener could conclude that we were dealing with a world class artist. Anders Paulsson has a rare musical gift and complete technical mastery of his instrument. Paulsson´s tone has the clarity, beauty and precision of a laser beam.”

“Anders Paulsson is deeply committed to the global work for a more ecological society. The soprano saxophone is in his hands an instrument that reconnects us to the spirit of Creation and Wholeness”

“The soprano saxophone is in the hands of Anders Paulsson the ultimate wind instrument – like a top-trimmed racing car.”

“Anders Paulsson´s dazzling performance made the Mozart concerto sound so authentic – as if Mozart had a special knowledge of the soprano saxophone. Anders Paulsson is a musical giant.”