Alliage Quintett & Sabine Meyer - Fantasia (2016) [TR24][OF]

The Alliage Quintet has a gift for surprising its audiences by toying with the illusion of a symphony orchestra. The ensemble is like a storyteller regaling its audience with its own version of a traditional narrative.

For “Fantasia”, the players joined forces with Sabine Meyer to explore the imaginative world of works by Borodin, Stravinsky, Dukas, Bernstein and Shostakovich – works that are all based on famous fairytales, narratives and stories, e.g. Goethe’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Voltaire’s much-travelled Candide or the Russian folklore Firebird.

Unique in its line-up, the Alliage Quintet, two-time winner of the "Echo Klassik" award, creates the illusion of listening to a big orchestra. The ensemble is led on the soprano sax by its founder Daniel Gauthier, and he has several of today's best classical saxophone soloists at his side: Magdalena Lapaj (Poland) plays the alto, Asya Fateyeva (Ukraine) the tenor sax, and Sebastian Pottmeier (Germany) the baritone. Korean pianist Jang Eun Bae completes the ensemble.

The Alliage Quintet has made guest appearances in many of Europe's major concert halls, in Asia and North America, and also at well-known festivals such as the Rheingau Music Festival and the Lucerne Festival. In addition to many radio and TV appearances, e.g. on "ARTE Lounge", the Quintet has released a total of five CD's with works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mozart, Rossini and Puccini specially arranged for them.

TRACKLIST
01. Prince Igor: Polovetsian Dances
02. The Firebird: I. Introduction
03. II. The Firebird and Its Dance
04. III. Variation of the Firebird
05. The Firebird: IV. Round Dance of the Princesses
06. The Firebird: VI. Infernal Dance of King Kaschei
07. The Firebird: VII. Berceuse
08. The Firebird: VIII. Finale
09. Der Zauberlehrling
10. Candide: Overture
11. Five Pieces for 2 Violins and Piano, WoO (Arr. for Clarinet, Piano and 4 Saxophones): I. Praeludium (Moderato)
12. Five Pieces for 2 Violins and Piano, WoO (Arr. for Clarinet, Piano and 4 Saxophones): II. Gavotte (Tranquillo, molto leggiero)
13. Five Pieces for 2 Violins and Piano, WoO (Arr. for Clarinet, Piano and 4 Saxophones): III. Elegie (Andantino)
14. Five Pieces for 2 Violins and Piano, WoO (Arr. for Clarinet, Piano and 4 Saxophones): IV. Waltz (Tempo di Valse)
15. V. Polka (Vivace)

Alliage Quintett:

Daniel Gauthier, Soprano saxophone
Magdalena Łapaj, Alto saxophone
Asya Fateyeva, Tenor saxophone
Sebastian Pottmeier, Baritone saxophone
Jang Eun Bae, Piano

Sabine Meyer, Clarinet (tracks 1-9, 11-15)