The Big Beauty is the Saxofollia Quartet’s tribute to Italy and the centuries-old musical tradition that continues to thrive in our country.

The program opens with Antonio Vivaldi, whose Baroque genius is vividly expressed in La Tempesta di Mare—a piece that captures the movement and force of natural elements with extraordinary modernity.

At the heart of the program are three central figures in the history of music:
Gioachino Rossini, a great admirer of the saxophone, an instrument he became familiar with during his stay in Paris. He once wrote to a friend:
“I’ve never heard anything so beautiful—the richest and most perfect of all wind instruments!” From this statement comes the inspiration to reimagine some of his musical works for saxophone quartet.

Next is an original composition by Emilio Ghezzi, dedicated to the figure of Giuseppe Verdi. The starting material is the aria “Caro nome” from Rigoletto, which becomes a catalyst for varied reinterpretations of its melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic content.

Finally, a tribute to Giacomo Puccini—the first among Italian opera composers to incorporate the saxophone into an opera: Turandot.

Beyond the grand classical tradition, Italian music has also left its mark through cinema, becoming a universal language thanks to the masterpieces of Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota. Their soundtracks are not mere accompaniments but true sonic landscapes, capable of evoking images and emotions with just a few unmistakable chords.

The program concludes with a tribute to Italian canzone d’autore (singer-songwriter tradition), which has successfully engaged in dialogue with jazz and international music. Artists like Mina, Lucio Dalla, and Bruno Martino have left a repertoire that lends itself beautifully to reinterpretation by a saxophone quartet.

With decades of experience and a unique ability to move across genres with elegance and mastery, Saxofollia is the ideal ensemble to bring this musical journey to life—offering a concert that is a heartfelt homage to the Italian musical tradition and its inexhaustible beauty.