Composer

Classical saxophonist Valentin Kovalev is one of the leaders of his generation in developing the musical and technical possibilities of the saxophone. For his PCMS debut, the 2023 Musical Fund Society Award winner offers a program that juxtaposes classical works with contemporary music from Spain, Turkey, and Japan.

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Valentin Kovalev, saxophone Amy Yang, piano

 Benjamin Franklin Hall

Discover the jaw-dropping artistry of next-gen talents as the 100 musicians of the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra come together to explore repertoire standards and new works alike.

San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

Davies Symphony Hall

Hear works by pioneering female composers Louise Farrenc and Nadia Boulanger, along with Takashi Yoshimatsu’s ‘4 Pieces in Bird Shape’, which showcases the full range of the clarinet’s tone

FestivALL: The Clarinet Trio – Undiscovered

Royal College of Music Museum

Hear mesmerising piano works by Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu, along with exciting new works by RCM composers.

FestivALL: Pleiades Dances

The Hochstein School

Saxophonist Mario Romero Madrid studies in the soloist class at the Jutland Music Conservatory. The soloist class is the highest level at the conservatory.

Soloist concert – Mario Romero Madrid, saxophone

Musikhuset Aarhus

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we bring our sensational 2023-2024 Masterworks Series season to a close with a flourish. Prepare to be transported as we welcome back the much-loved violin virtuoso, Francisco Fullana, to grace our stage once again. His masterful interpretation of Astor Piazzolla's enchanting Cuatro estaciones portenas will leave you spellbound, a mesmerizing dance of melodies that will stir your soul.

"in Nature's Realm"

Long Center for the Performing Arts

Guest conductor Akiko Fujimoto makes her debut with the Modesto Symphony this March, performing Walker's emotional Lyric for Strings and concluding with with Dvorak's lively Symphony No. 8. These two pieces bookend Korngold’s cinematic Violin Concerto in D Major performed by violinist Charles Yang, who returns to the MSO after last performing here in 2017 with the famed trio, Time for Three.

Korngold & Yoshimatsu

Gallo Center for the Arts

Join us for an unforgettable evening with the Greenwich Symphony on February 1 & 2, 2025, at the Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School, located at 10 Hillside Road, Greenwich, CT. Experience the magic of live classical music under the baton of esteemed conductor Stuart Malina, featuring the extraordinary talents of saxophonist Valentin Kovalev.

The concert will commence on Saturday at 7:30 pm and on Sunday at 3:00 pm, offering attendees two opportunities to witness this spectacular performance. The program includes Gioachino Rossini's exhilarating Overture to The Barber of Seville, Eunike Tanzil's compelling Veni, Vidi, Vici, and Takashi Yoshimatsu's Alto Saxophone Concerto Cyber Bird, showcasing the virtuosic skills of Kovalev. The evening will conclude with Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, "Scottish," transporting the audience to the picturesque landscapes of Scotland through its stirring melodies.

Valentin Kovalev, a saxophonist of international acclaim, brings his diverse background and vibrant energy to the stage. With a rich history of studying in Russia, France, and the U.S., Kovalev's performances are a testament to his passion for connecting with audiences worldwide. His dedication to supporting Ukrainian saxophonists and amplifying marginalized voices in the classical music scene underscores his commitment to making a difference through music.

Kovalev's accolades include prestigious awards from the MTNA Competition U.S., Manhattan International Music Competition U.S., and many more, establishing him as a leading figure in the world of classical saxophone. Having performed at Carnegie Hall and with numerous prestigious orchestras globally, his appearance with the Greenwich Symphony is a highlight not to be missed.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the power of classical music brought to life by the Greenwich Symphony and the remarkable Valentin Kovalev. Reserve your tickets now for a weekend of breathtaking performances that promise to inspire and captivate.

GSO February Concert 2025

Greenwich High School

LexPhil’s 2024/25 Season finale concert bursts forth into spring with Hector Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture followed by the evocative Cyber Bird Concerto by Takashi Yoshimatsu. The three movement work follows “an imaginary bird in the realm of electronic cyberspace”. Described as a ‘triple concerto’ the piece features saxophonist Jichen Zhang, pianist Meng Liu and percussionist Ben Stone. 

Rite of Spring

University of Kentucky

Ruth Reinhardt returns to lead the Symphony in two delightful works by two Czech masters: the Overture and Three Dances from Smetana’s folk-inspired romantic comedy The Bartered Bride and Dvořák’s infectiously joyous Symphony No. 8, which was conceived and written in the gorgeous green landscape of fields and woods around the small community where Dvořák had his country home. Having grown-up as a country boy in a largely agricultural community, the composer was passionate about the beauties of the rural world, taking pleasure especially in the rich variety of the songs of wild birds, which he would listen to in the little wood at the bottom of his garden. Probably no other symphony in the established repertoire is so full of delicious suggestions of singing birds as this!

Takashi Yoshimatsu

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

1 - 2 Feb, 2025

GSO February Concert 2025 · Greenwich Symphony Orchestra

May 2, 2025

Rite of Spring · Lexington Philharmonic

3 - 4 May, 2025

Czech Masterpieces and a Saxophone Concerto · San Diego Symphony

Past events

Dec 3, 2024

Valentin Kovalev, saxophone Amy Yang, piano · Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Nov 24, 2024

San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra · San Francisco Symphony

About

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