Instrument: Saxophone

A smorgasbord of delights from the RSNO that ranges from the absurdist nihilism of Ligeti to a unique Pictures at an Exhibition with artist James Mayhew.

*****

Mighty Shostakovich from Andris Poga and the RLPO

Peter Connors, 01 Dec

Andris Poga conducts the RLPO in a breathtaking Shostakovich 10, preceded by a rarity for brass and percussion and Glazunov's delightful Saxophone Concerto with Jess Gillam.

****1

A sonic meadow, with unusual reeds, at the Time:Spans festival

Kurt Gottschalk, 15 Aug

San Francisco’s Splinter Reeds, echoing the traditional wind quintet but eschews the non-reed instruments, makes its second ever New York City appearance, part of the Earle Brown Foundation’s Time:Spans Festival.

***11

Manchester Camerata and Jess Gillam on superb form in Buxton

Peter Connors, 19 Jul

Two fascinating and hugely entertaining recent pieces started a superb concert by the strings of the Manchester Camerata, joined by Jess Gillam in Glazunov's Saxophone Concerto and the Brodsky Quartet in Elgar's Introduction and Allegro. Tchaikovsky crowned the concert.

*****

Chauhan and the Philharmonia on fine form at the Anvil

David Truslove, 03 Mar

Exhilarating performances from The Philharmonia in a trio of Russian composers brought to life by Alpesh Chauhan, with Jess Gillam as a distinguished soloist.

****1

Susanna Mälkki impresses in a belated Carnegie Hall debut

Edward Sava-Segal, 06 Jan

Mälkki's performance had all the trappings and the appearance of an informal audition for the Philharmonic's top musical position.

****1

Buzzing energy from Vasily Petrenko, Jess Gillam and the EUYO

Alexander Hall, 21 Aug

Vasily Petrenko unleashes powerful and poetic sounds in Sibelius' Second Symphony and Jess Gillam dazzles in one of Michael Nyman's works while the European Union Youth Orchestra shows off its remarkable qualities.

*****