Saxophone master in Bangkok debut

Bulletin

February 19, 2007 from The Nation (Thailand) by Thanong Khanthong (abridged)

Not many saxophonists can undertake a successful solo career as it’s tough to make it onto centre stage. But over the last twenty years, Italian-born Federico Mondelci has carved a niche for himself as one of the leading saxophonists of his generation.
On February 19, 2007, Bangkokians had a very rare opportunity to listen to Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto featuring Mondelci as the soloist. It is a beautiful concerto written in 1930 with Russian style in three connected movements toward the end of Glazunov’s career in Paris. Mondelci played the alto saxophone for this 14-minute concerto.
Mondelci made his Bangkok debut at the Thailand Cultural Centre on February 19 with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under the internationally renowned conductor Constantine Orbelian. The concert was part of A Tribute to the Supreme Artists in the Great Artists of the World series, which marks His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday this year.
Mondelci has collaborated with Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra for dozens of concerts. Orbelian’s wife heard Mondelci play the saxophone and was very impressed with his performance. She asked her husband to listen to Mondelci, but it took about three years before Orbelian had a chance to do so. Ever since, Mondelci has been frequently invited to perform with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra.
Mondelci has represented Italy at the World Saxophone Festival in Germany, Japan, the United States and Spain. In Italy, he has been a soloist with all the major orchestras, including Milan’s Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala under Seiji Ozawa. He now frequently performs in Russia. His CD Piazzolla Tangos on Delos (DE 3252) with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Orbelian was a New York Times pick of the week.
Today many composers are devoting their music to this wonderful instrument, which is also a favourite of His Majesty the King. With the growing popularity of the saxophone, Thailand will be hosting a saxophone symposium in 2009.
What makes Mondelci different from other saxophone artists is that he makes his saxophone sing. “When I play the saxophone, I have a special feeling for it. I like to sing with my saxophone, which has a vocal character,” he said.

"Star Power, Charisma and Ardor in Onegin" — The New York Times

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the great Siberian baritone, has done it again! His current stint at the Met in New York City is the title role in Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin. His appearances, which extend from February 9 to March 3, mark Hvorostovsky's debut in this role at the Met. As the New York Times commented in its review of opening night, "Dmitri Hvorostovsky …was born to play the role." It goes on "…you will seldom see better acting in opera than the scenes between Ms. [Renée] Fleming and Mr. Hvorostovsky. With his white mane, commanding physique and earthy voice, Mr. Hvorostovsky projects charisma naturally, making him perfect for this character."
As an interesting sidelight, the Met Saturday Matinée performance of this opera and cast on February 24 will be broadcast nationally and can be viewed simultaneously live on hundreds of movie theater screens all over the USA. Thousands of avid opera fans have made this new way to see and hear Met opera performances highly successful.
Mr. Hvorostovsky's stock should soar higher than ever when theater-going opera fans get giant closeups of the "white mane and commanding physique." And all this is in glorious digital sound as the opera is actually being performed on stage!
We at Delos are proud to offer six of Mr. Hvorostovsky's most recent recordings: Moscow Nights, Where Are You, My Brothers?, Sviridov: Petersburg, I Met You, My Love, Verdi Arias, and Passione di Napoli. By midyear of 2007 we hope to release his new recording of great opera arias. A short preview, heard by your correspondent, was most impressive, with Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing at the height of his powers.