Christine Rall, soprano
Elliot Riley, alto
Bruce Weinberger, tenor
Kenneth Coon, baritone

Since its formation in 1969, the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet has appeared regularly at the major concert halls in Europe and the US: Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center New York, Kennedy Center Washington, DC, Opera Bastille Paris, Royal Festival Hall London, Philharmonie Cologne, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Schauspielhaus Berlin, Musikverein Vienna, and Tonhalle Zürich.

The Vienna Zeitung hailed the quartet as the "Uncrowned Kings of the Saxophone" and a critic from Die Welt claimed, "If there were an Olympic discipline for virtuoso wind playing, the Raschèr Quartet would definitely receive a gold medal."

The ensemble carries on a tradition established in the 1930s by the pioneer of the classical saxophone and founding member of the quartet Sigurd Raschèr, who animated many composers to write music especially for him. In a similar fashion, the quartet has inspired over 250 composers to dedicate music to them, including, Berio, Bergman, Bialis, Denhoff, Donatoni, Firsowa, Glass, Gubaidulina, Halffter, Haubenstock-Ramati, Kaipainen, Keuris, de Leeuw, Nordgren, Nørgard, Maros, Raxach, Raskatov, Sandström, von Schweinitz, Stucky, Terzakis, Urbanner, Wuorinen, Xenakis and Zechlin.

All of these composers have shared an enthusiasm for the four musicians' unique homogeneous tone quality, virtuosity and dynamic interpretation of new and old music.

Regarding their interpretation of Bach, the well-known German musicologist Ulrich Dibelius wrote, "When the Raschèr Quartet plays Bach, the music takes on a seraphic aura-as if the organ and the string quartet had come together."

Numerous composers have been fascinated with the combination of the Raschèrs and orchestra, which has resulted in more than 20 new works for that combination as well as invitations from many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Gewandhaus Leipzig, the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, American Composer's Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Pilharmonique Strasbourg, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Residentie Orchestra of the Hague, Berlin Sinfonie Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, SWR Baden-Baden, MDR Orchestra Leipzig, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Stuttgart, Radio-Sinfonie Orchestra Cologne, I Fiamminghi and Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Raschér Quartet is a musical democracy. Therefore, in contrast to many other chamber ensembles, the quartet has no leader.

Performances

Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory | January 20, 2007

News and Press

[Concert Review] A Boston connection with style

Now in its 10th season, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project is a vibrant presence on the city’s new music scene, a group with omnivorous musical appetites and impressive collective chops. Its calendar this season is crowded with contemporary music, from the avant-garde of France to the avant-garde of New Jersey. But once a year, BMOP tunes its questing ears to the music produced specifically by local composers, or at least those with local ties. The group’s annual “Boston Connection” program took place Saturday night in Jordan Hall.

The Boston Globe Full review
[Press Release] BMOP announces 10th anniversary season

BMOP announces that its 10th anniversary season will open on November 3, 2006 at Jordan Hall. For 10 years BMOP has been Boston's only orchestra dedicated exclusively to performing and recording new music. Led by founding Artistic Director Gil Rose, BMOP is considered to be the premier orchestra for new music in the country.

Full review