Fellini (Omaggio a Federico Fellini) [HL:4004957]

Fellini takes the listener into the surrealistic and dreamy world of the legendary Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini (1920-1993). His early influences were – in his own words – “Cinema, Circus, Sex & Spaghetti”. These themes form the theatrical tetralogy in which the alto saxophone serves as the personification of a circus clown. He does not take the traditional position next to the conductor, but moves gracefully across the stage from a make-up table to a sofa bed, and makes side trips to the circus band - somewhere in the lobby of the theater, independent from the orchestra on stage. Adding this offstage circus band – which seems to come from a parallel universe – enhances the unreal, circus-like atmosphere, like in many of Fellini's films.

Fellini was commissioned by Musikgesellschaft Vispe from Visp, Switzerland, and supported by the Fellini Foundation from Sion, Switzerland. The world premiere took place on November 14th and 15th, 2015 in La Poste in Visp, performed by Musikgesellschaft Vispe conducted by Johan de Meij, with Hans de Jong as the soloist on alto saxophone, for whom the piece was written.