Classiques français: Works by Paul Dukas, Georges Bizet, Jean Françaix and Maurice Ravel Saxon Wind Philharmonic & Thomas Clamor

• 1 Fanfare pour preceder La Peri 02:09
• 2 VI. Marche du toreador 02:07
• 3 I. Prelude 01:15
• 4 Carmen Suite No. 2 - V. Garde montant (arr. T. Takahashi for wind ensemble) 02:07
• 5 Carmen - Fanfare (arr. T. Takahashi for wind ensemble) 03:31
• 6 III. Intermezzo 02:50
• 7 V. Les dragons de Alcala 01:39
• 8 IV. Chanson du Toreador 02:28
• 9 II. Habanera 02:09
• 10 VI. Danse bohemienne 04:44
• 11 I. Marche 05:28
• 12 II. Valse 02:17
• 13 III. Galop 02:47
• 14 I. Prelude 06:47
• 15 II. Minuetto 02:56
• 16 III. Adagietto 02:26
• 17 IV. Carillon 04:12
• 18 Pavane pour une infante defunte 05:59
• 19 Boléro 14:33
• Total Runtime 01:12:24

Info for Classiques français: Works by Paul Dukas, Georges Bizet, Jean Françaix and Maurice Ravel

Are you one of those people who occasionally get angry over failed opera and ballet productions? Traviata didn't have any clear position once again, in Swan Lake the dancers were dressed in burlap bags from the local discount shop ... Now there's a remedy: with the Saxon Wind Philharmonic, the feather-light woodwinds dance over the stage in Bizet's Carmen and, instead of washed-up toreros, there are sharp, cutting brass. The third GENUIN album of the elite wind orchestra, Classiques français, will not only delight opera friends: French music for the stage rings out so impressively and so colourfully from the loudspeakers that one doesn't miss singers or dancers in the least. ... Vive la France, vivat Saxonia!

Saxon Wind Philharmonic
Thomas Clamor, conductor

Saxon Wind Philharmonic (Sächsische Bläserphilharmonie)
A look at European musical history reveals a long tradition of independent performance by musicians in many different brass formations in both sacred and secular music: This tradition extends from performances by town pipers, council and court musicians, classical “Harmoniemusik” (symphonic wind ensembles) and Romantic wind band serenades all the way to the symphonic-orchestral tutti sound of the present day. There are innumerable composers and ensembles whose names are associated with this genre. For more than half a century the Saxon Wind Philharmonic has been building on this rich heritage as the only ensemble among German symphony orchestras which is specialized in and well known for this repertoire: In 2010 the 60th birthday of the ensemble was marked with a major jubilee concert. The Saxon Wind Philharmonic performs in many different instrumental combinations. These range from small, flexible wind ensembles to serenade instrumentation (implying incidental music performed at night) all the way to a full orchestra. In this way the artistic possibilities of concertante wind ensemble literature can be comprehensively displayed. Lively interpretations faithful to the original along with instrumental perfection guarantee great success with audiences, and document the high artistic standard the ensemble sets for itself. The Saxon Wind Philharmonic’s own academy, founded in 1995, documents the pedagogical ethos of the ensemble and their commitment to sustainability. The year 2011 was marked by no less than three important milestones for the ensemble: On January 1 the official term of office of the new Artistic Director of the Saxon Wind Philharmonic, Thomas Clamor, began. In addition, since 2010 the academy, which sees itself as a nationwide network of specialized wind ensemble associations, has performed under the new name “Deutsche Bläserakademie.” And finally, in May 2011 its new home became Bad Lausick, which was chosen for its excellent geographical location within Germany, where the grand opening was celebrated on 2011.

Thomas Clamor
is Principal Conductor of the Saxon Wind Philharmonic and Artistic Director of the Deutsche Bläserakademie. He studied trumpet and percussion at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold. In 1986 he was accepted into the Berlin Philharmonic as its youngest member while also making a name for himself as a soloist and chamber musician in renowned ensembles. This creative work is documented by a large number of television and radio productions, as well as CD recordings with leading recording labels. In 1987 he began working as a teacher and visiting professor at German universities (Detmold, Weimar, Berlin) and at the Herbert von Karajan Foundation. Right up until today, Thomas Clamor gives international master classes and is a professor (honoris causa) at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. A high point in his teaching work is “El Sistema” of Venezuela, which now has legendary status: Here, with his support the first Latin American wind academy was established, with the Venezuelan Brass Ensemble he founded at its forefront; with this ensemble he has been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics throughout the world. Thomas Clamor has appeared as a guest artist at the most important music festivals in Europe, and among other venues has conducted in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Peking, Rome, and Madrid. He is considered one of the leading conductors of brass chamber music internationally . In 2010 he founded Das Große Europäische Blechbläserensemble in Austria; as with many of his projects, here too one of his goals is to carry on cultural exchange at the highest musical level.

Booklet for Classiques français: Works by Paul Dukas, Georges Bizet, Jean Françaix and Maurice Ravel