Karen Devroop with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra

Abstract

Receiving an invitation to perform with an international symphony orchestra is no small feat. From the large number of applications received by various orchestras around the world, only a handful of artists receive invitations to perform as soloists. Generally, the most popular invitees are primarily pianists, violinists and singers. Saxophonists are rarely invited to perform with orchestras, largely due to the instrument not being recognised as a primary solo instrument with orchestra and also due to the limited amount of literature available for this combination of forces. Accordingly, when a saxophonist is invited to perform with an orchestra, it is indeed an accomplishment.

In 2020, I was invited to perform as saxophone soloist with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, the resident orchestra of the Newman Performing Arts Centre in Denver, Colorado. The Lamont Symphony Orchestra is internationally recognised and has accompanied some of the world’s great performers. The Newman Performing Arts Centre is one the most prestigious performance halls in Colorado with a seating capacity of close to 1000 people and a new, state of the art performance hall. My concert was widely publicised online and in print media across Denver and drew a capacity crowd. Generally, concerts are sold out at this venue but in April 2020, the pandemic was just taking hold in the USA; accordingly, the venue was not sold out but did draw a crowd of approximately 700 people.

My performance included the Piazzola Suite comprised of Libertango, Oblivion, and Adios Nonino which were specifically arranged for saxophone and full orchestra by internationally recognised arranger Trino Jimenez from Venezuela. I commissioned Mr Jimenez to arrange these works for me, after conceptualising the works in a manner that blended both classical and jazz styles. The works were arranged for full orchestra but included room for jazz improvisation. As a jazz saxophonist with classical training and background, I wanted to perform the works in a manner that was neither classical nor jazz but rather a blending of both styles. Hence, the performance tends to be classical but with occasional jazz inflections, jazz interpretation and jazz improvisation. Keeping in mind that these were tangos (Astor Piazzola was widely recognised for writing tango based orchestral works), I tried to keep the performance in the tango idiom with lots of emotion melodically.

Performing as a soloist with an orchestra (national or international) requires a significant amount of practice and preparation. Instruments such as the saxophone are notoriously out of tune (by virtue of their design), accordingly they require intensive preparation in order to balance, blend and play in tune with the string section. My preparation for this concert began a year prior to the concert, as the arrangements had not been performed before. Accordingly, I had to ensure that the arrangements were viable by rehearsing them with a local orchestra before performing them abroad. My personal practising and preparation took several months as I was afforded just one rehearsal with the orchestra prior to the dress rehearsal.

Ultimately, the concert was exceptionally well received with a standing ovation. I was indeed pleased with my performance and grateful to be afforded this rare opportunity.