Saxophone +, beyond a stage concert format

Abstract

The boundaries of classical music have long been blurred, with numerous artists redefining the concert as a multidisciplinary experience that integrates various arts and technologies. The research detailed in this paper explores the transformation of the traditional concert format, positioning the performer as a multifaceted artist who assumes roles beyond interpretation, such as stage direction or musical acting, expanding the expressive possibilities of musical performance.
Through artistic research, this study conceives the concert as a dramaturgical space where different art forms converge. The project Saxophone + (stage concert) exemplifies this vision, featuring collaborations with composers such as Abel Paul, Óscar Escudero, Camilo Méndez, and Andreas E. Frank. The resulting works incorporate gestural elements, video, electronics, and sculptural instruments that transform not only the saxophone's sound but also its visual and performative presence. These elements challenge the traditional passive spectator model, transforming both space and audience interaction.
This paper presents one outcome of an ongoing artistic research project, which aims to rethink the role of the concert performer and to redefine the solo concert format through interdisciplinary experimentation, with a particular focus on developing new stage and concert formats. Drawing on performance studies, contemporary composition, and the integration of multimedia technologies, the project explores how expanded practices – such as gestural performance, video, and sound sculpture – can challenge traditional paradigms of musical presentation. By integrating technology and innovating the concert format, the study highlights the importance of engaging contemporary audiences in new and immersive ways. The findings point to the necessity of rethinking traditional concert formats in order to better respond to the expectations of contemporary audiences, emphasizing the value of interactivity and spatial reconfiguration. Saxophone + serves as an introduction to this evolving conception, redefining the performer, the concert, and the audience.