Words (Un)spoken

Raschèr Saxophone Quartet & Schola Cantorum of Oxford

An ARVO PÄRT…and a Littlemore event

Since its formation in 1969, the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet has appeared regularly at major concert halls in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Now based in Freiburg, we are honoured that these superb musicians have joined forces with the University of Oxford’s Schola Cantorum for a festival finale under the direction of Steven Grahl. Andreas van Zoelen’s sensitive adaptations bring an ethereal new element to these well-known works by Pärt, with voices and saxophones fusing together seamlessly in the cathedral’s acoustic. The festival ends as it begins, with a universal plea for peace.

About the artists

The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet has appeared regularly at the major concert halls in Europe, Asia and the U.S.: Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center New York, Kennedy Center Washington D.C., Opera Bastille Paris, Royal Festival Hall London, Philharmonie Cologne, Finlandia Hall Helsinki, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Schauspielhaus Berlin, Musikverein Vienna, Tonhalle Zürich, Parco della Musica Rome, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas Kuala Lumpur, National Concert Hall Taipei, etc. 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.”

Schola Cantorum of Oxford is one of the longest established and most widely known chamber choirs in the UK. Founded by conductor László Heltay in 1960 as Collegium Musicum Oxoniense, Schola Cantorum has worked with many highly respected musicians, including former patrons Sir Michael Tippett and Yehudi Menuhin, as well as Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Leonhardt, John Nelson, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Mark Elder, and Sir Neville Marriner.