Saxophonist Federic Mondelci, who says he makes his saxophone ‘sing’, has been playing the soulful instrument since he was 12.

But over the last 20 years, Italian-born Federic Mondelci has carved a niche for himself as one of the leading saxophonists of his generation.

Today Bangkokians will have a very rare opportunity to listen to Glazunov's Saxophone Concerto featuring Mondelci as the soloist. It is a beautiful concerto written with Russian style in three connected movements. The piece was written in 1930 towards the end of Glazunov's career in Paris. Glazunov also wrote a saxophone quartet. Mondelci will play the alto saxophone for this 14-minute concerto.

Mondelci is to make his Bangkok debut at the Thailand Cultural Centre this evening with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under the internationally renowned conductor Constantine Orbelian. The concert is part of A Tribute to the Supreme Artists in the Great Artists of the World series, which marks His Majesty the King's 80th birthday this year. The Moscow Chamber Orchestra's programme will also include Grieg's Holberg Suite, Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen, Tartini's Devil's Trill performed by Alexander Sitkovetsky and Tchaikovsky's Serenade for strings.

Mondelci has collaborated with Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra for dozens of concerts. Orbelian's wife heard Mondelci play the saxophone and was very impressed with his performance. She asked her husband to listen to Mondelci. But it took about three years before Orbelian had a chance to do so. Ever since, Mondelci has been frequently invited to perform with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra.

Mondelci began to study the saxophone when he was 12. He attended Italy's Conservatorio Rossini before moving on to study with the legendary Jean-Marie Londeix at France's Bordequ Conservatoire, where in 1981 he was awarded first prize and a gold medal. He then launched his career as a soloist.

Mondelci has represented Italy at the World Saxophone Festival in Germany, Japan, the United States and Spain. In Italy, he has been a soloist with all the major orchestras, including Milan's Philhar-monic Orchestra of La Scala under Seiji Ozawa. He now frequently performs in Russia. His CD Piazzolla Tangos on Delos is now out, a recording with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Orbelian. It was the New York Times' pick of the week.

France is the homeland of the saxophone. The instrument was created in the 1840s. In the late 19th century, it was quite popular among composers. Most of the important saxophone repertoires started in the early 20th century. All French composers wrote compositions for saxophone. The most popular piece is Debussy's Saxophone Rhapsody.

Now many composers are devoting their music to this wonderful instrument, which is also a favourite of His Majesty the King. With the growing popularity of the saxophone, Thailand will be hosting a saxophone symposium in 2009.

As leading saxophonist, Mondelci has performed several premier pieces of contemporary saxophone music. John Psathas of New Zealand has also written a concerto for Mondelci to premiere. Last season, he toured with pianist Kathryn Stott, performing in Russia, Finland, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. His life is mostly on the road, performing in different continents.

What makes Mondelci different from other saxophone artists is that he makes his saxophone sing. "When I play the saxophone, I have a special feeling for it. I like to sing with my saxophone, which has a vocal character," he said.

He admits it may be easy to play the saxophone in the beginning but it is another thing to take it to the top level, for it requires both physical and artistic demands.

Thanong Khanthong

The Nation