HABANERA QUARTET (F) with special guest MAJA LISAC BARROSO (CH/SI)

Christian Wirth, soprano saxophone

Maja Lisac Barroso, soprano saxophone

Sylvain Malezieux, alto saxophone

Fabrizio Mancuso, baritone saxophone

Gilles Tressos, baritone saxophone

The members of the French saxophone Quartet Habanera are Christian Wirth, soprano saxophone, Sylvain Malezieux, alto saxophone, Fabrizio Mancuso, baritone saxophone and Gilles Tressos, baritone saxophone. Enthusiasts of rarely visited musical territories travel across a variety of musical stages, from contemporary creations to unusual repertoires and transcriptions, from world music to improvised music. After studying at the Paris Conservatoire (Conservatoire national Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris – CNSMDP), where the Habanera Quartet won the first prize for chamber music, the ensemble has arguably created a unique record of eight first international chamber music prizes (Bordeaux, Sanguinetto, Düsseldorf, Osaka). Since their inception, they have recorded for Alpha Productions – for their albums and soundtracks such as “Mysterious morning” (Alpha 010), “Glazounov, Grieg, Dvořák” (Alpha 041) and recordings of contemporary works (Ligeti, Xenakis, Donatoni, etc.) for which they have received numerous awards (Golden Diapason, Classica and Répertoire recommendations). The Habanera Quartet is becoming increasingly popular year after year in France (Théâtre de la Ville, Opera comique, “Folles journées” in Nantes, “Festival de l’Epau”, IRCAM, Radio France, “Académie Bach”…) and all over the world (Japan, China, USA, Canada, Europe). Classical musicians “without a tailcoat” aim to blur the boundaries of classical concerts by bringing together Bach, Reich, Dvořák and Ligeti on stage in one evening. Louis Sclavis, Dave Liebman, Richard Galliano, Michel Portal and David Krakaue are famous for having fused their improvisations into the tightly knit framework of a saxophone quartet. In 2023, the Habanera Quartet celebrates its 30 years of existence, and they will mark this special anniversary by touring around the world.

Maja Lisac Barroso

Maja Lisac Barroso is a Slovenian-Swiss saxophonist, music university professor and arranger, born in Basel in 1980. After her classical studies in Vienna and Basel, she has been invited to perform as a soloist in numerous European countries, Africa, Mexico and Australia. Maja Lisac gives masterclasses and is a jury member at international competitions. Her music arrangements are performed by various ensembles and the U.S. Navy Band in Washington. At home in various musical genres, Maja Lisac tours with several groups: she is a founder of the Zure saxophone quartet, a member of a tango duo with bandoneonist Marcelo Nisinman, plays in a duo with pianist Andriy Dragan, in a jazz duo with Julio Azcano, in a Flamenco quartet with dancer LaTina, and with the Basel String Quartet. Maja Lisac received awards from Novartis, the canton Basel-Land and the Friedl Wald foundation. In 2008, Maja Lisac was elected for a one year residency at the Cité Intérnationale des Arts in Paris. In 2009, Maja Lisac became an assistant professor of prof. Marcus Weiss at the Music University in Basel. Since 2020, Maja Lisac teaches her own classical international saxophone class for Bachelor, Master and Doctorate studies at the University for Musik Freiburg im Breisgau. She teaches also at the Jazzcampus Basel. Maja Lisac performed twice in duo with US saxophonist Branford Marsalis. In 2021, she recorded CDs for the label Solomusica/Sony and for Prospero Classical, and was broadcasted by television and radio stations. The extended presentation…

PROGRAMME:

Franz Schubert (1797—1828):

Arrangement for five saxophones: Maja Lisac Barroso

String Quartet in C minor, Op. D 956 

Allegro ma non troppo

Adagio

Scherzo. Presto –Trio. Andante sosten
Allegretto – più allegro – più presto