About
There is something magical about the music which speaks directly to people
Since his highly praised Carnegie Hall début in New York City, the saxophonist Marco Albonetti has been performing and giving master-classes around the world. His ability to captivate audiences with his charismatic and innovative performances has made him one of the most influential classical saxophone artists of his generation. Though he is classically trained, his style of performance represents a unique blend of dynamic techniques and multifaceted influences.
Marco has appeared at myriad Italian theatres and distinguished international venues, including the Konzerthaus Berlin, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Wiener Saal in Salzburg, Palau de la Música de València, Palau de la Música Catalana de Barcelona, Teatro Español de Madrid, Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna, Sverdlovsk State Philharmonic Hall in Yekaterinburg, Wits Great Hall in Johannesburg, Zhongshan Hall in Taipei, and Aram Khachaturian Hall in Yerevan. He has also been awarded first prize at several international solo and chamber music competitions.
Concerto performances being at the heart of his career, both at home and abroad, he has enjoyed appearing with such orchestras as Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Orchestra da Camera di Mantova, I Virtuosi Italiani, Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali, Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Bari, Orchestra della Fondazione Teatro Petruzzelli, National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, St Michel Strings, Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Central Conservatory Strings in Beijing, BoCo Strings, Orchestra Maderna, Collegium Musicum Orchestra, and Jackson Symphony Orchestra.
His concert tours have taken him to Italy, France, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Russia, Cyprus, South Africa, Canada, China, Taiwan, Costa Rica, and the United States. He has performed live on radio and television, notably on RAI 1, SABC, PIK1, CBS, Hong Kong Broadcasting Corporation, Lumiere TV, Cypriot Radio, and Wisconsin Public Radio. He has recorded for Albany Records, Nar International, Abeat Records, and ArteSuono. In February 2021, in hommage to the centenary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla, Marco released his latest recording, “Romance del Diablo: The Music of Piazzolla”, which appears on Chandos Records. The project Romance del Diablo will tour throughout the 2021 season.
Having worked with Luciano Berio for several years, Marco is active in the performance of both traditional and contemporary repertoire, and has premièred works for the saxophone by prominent composers such as John Harbison, Gunther Schuller, David Maslanka, Bernard Rands, Jorge Bosso, Kirk O’Riordan, David Stock, Phanos Dymiotis, Julie Spencer, Fred Sturm, and Ken Schaphorst. For several years, he toured as an actor / saxophonist with the renowned Italian ‘diva’ Milva, performing music by Astor Piazzolla, Hanns Eisler, and Kurt Weill. He has developed multiple projects featuring baroque, tango, and world music and shared the stage with musicians such as the percussionist Dane Richeson, legendary tango pianist Pablo Ziegler, and multiple Grammy award winner Branford Marsalis.
Marco is also a devoted chamber musician. Since 1994 he has been a member of the award winning Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, which has toured internationally, offering innovative programmes that combine elements of classical, jazz, rock, ethnic, and world music. Featuring premières of works by American composers, their recording Mountain Roads has garnered widespread praise.
Marco is a Légère Reeds Endorsing Artist and an ambassador for John Ashfield men’s clothing.