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Saxophonist Valentin Kovalev and Pianist Ahmed Alom
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2025
7:30PM
$18.00-$42.00/GENERAL SEATING
ELECTRONIC TICKETS
STAGE AT ST. ANDREWS • 6036 COBURG RD
K'JIPUKTUK/HALIFAX • MI’KMA’KI/NOVA SCOTIA
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
MAIN STAGE CONCERTS SERIES
About this Concert
ARTISTS: Valentin Kovalev, saxophone; Ahmed Alom, piano
COMPOSERS: Chaminade, Iturralde, Molinelli, Say, Schulhoff, Villa-Lobos, and Yoshimatsu
Siberian saxophonist Valentin Kovalev, fresh from a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall, joins multiple prize-winning Cuban pianist Ahmed Alom for an exhilarating and diverse spring program that celebrates the saxophone’s expressive versatility and the piano’s dynamic depth. This performance showcases Brazilian composer Hector Villa-Lobos’s enchanting and rhythmically vibrant “Fantasia,” alongside the charming lyricism of Cécile Chaminade’s “Flute Concertino in D major,” arranged here for saxophone. Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff’s “Saxophone Sonata” highlights the instrument’s modernist energy with its lively and evocative movements. Turkish composer Fazil Say’s “Suite for Saxophone and Piano” intertwines dramatic contrasts and virtuosic interplay, while Roberto Molinelli’s “Four Pictures of New York” paints vivid musical scenes of the Big Apple. The program also includes Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu’s “Fuzzy Bird Sonata,” a striking and imaginative work that captures the spirit of flight through its dazzling and lyrical movements, and Pedro Iturralde’s “Pequeña Czarda,” which brings a blend of fiery passion and Romani-inspired flair. Together, Kovalev and Alom bring each piece to life, showcasing their shared artistry and masterful musicianship as well as the rich and captivating possibilities of the saxophone and piano pairing. Season Sponsor: Jules Chamberlain / Red Door Realty.