Recital with pianist Andrey Nesterenko

Études et Esquisses

A program of musical studies, sketches, and stepping stones

This recital explores a collection of compact yet richly expressive works for saxophone that all share a common thread: they were conceived — directly or indirectly — as preparatory pieces. Whether created for conservatory exams, as technical studies, or as musical sketches pointing toward larger works, each piece invites us into the intimate space where experimentation and refinement meet.

We begin with Claude Debussy’s Petite Pièce (c. 2’), originally written as a prima vista sight-reading exercise for the Paris Conservatoire. Despite its brevity, it offers a concentrated dose of Debussy’s charm and lyricism.

It is followed by his more substantial Première Rhapsodie (c. 10’), also composed as a conservatory exam piece — this time as a full recital work to test musical and technical command. Though originally for clarinet, it reveals new sonorities and expressive possibilities on the soprano saxophone.

Next, we turn to Edison Denisov’s Two Pieces (c. 5’30”), which offer glimpses into the sound world of one of the most important 20th-century Russian composers. These short works can be heard as a preparation for his far more demanding Sonata — both in their language and in their intricate shaping.

Luciano Berio’s Lied (c. 4’30”), played here on tenor saxophone, is another gem originally written for clarinet. Lyrical and concentrated, it anticipates the more radical explorations of Berio’s Sequenza IX, making Lied a fascinating prelude in his catalog.

We close the program with André Jolivet’s Fantaisie-Impromptu (c. 4’), a vibrant and energetic piece that might have served as a perfect introduction to a larger saxophone work — had Jolivet ever written one. It remains a standalone jewel, bursting with rhythm and colour.