I have found it continually frustrating throughout my years as a student and professional to be unable to identify the saxophonist(s) when listening to and studying orchestral recordings involving saxophone. During the LP and CD eras, there were virtually no recordings that credited the saxophonist(s) in these works. (An exception was the Berlin Philharmonic CD recording of the L’Arlésienne Suites conducted by Herbert von Karajan. The great French saxophonist Daniel Deffayet was listed prominently on the back cover.) Therefore, I have constructed a partial listing of recordings of some of the most familiar orchestral works involving saxophone and the artists who performed on them. The saxophonists are listed alphabetically, and it should be noted that this compilation is by no means the entire orchestral discography for any of these individuals. My objective is to provide the reader with a general overview of this sector of the industry highlighting a wide variety of saxophonists and compositions. Many of these recordings are still available and/or can be heard on YouTube.
There are several great saxophone soloists not listed here including Jimmy Abato, Al Gallodoro, James Houlik, Jean-Marie Londeix, Eugene Rousseau, etc. These gentlemen have undoubtedly played many of the great orchestral solos with a variety of orchestras, but I have yet to encounter those recordings. Hopefully, the reader can add to this list and share any additional listings with students and colleagues.
- Joe Allard
- Bizet, L’Arlésienne Suites (Stokowski & his Symphony Orchestra, Cala 0548)
- Daniel Deffayet
- Bizet, L’Arlésienne Suites (Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon 415106-2)
- Delibes, Sylvia (Mari, Orchestre du Theatre National de l’Opera de Paris, Seraphim Classics 74009)
- Milhaud, La Creation du Monde (Bernstein, Orchestre National de France, EMI CDC-7-47845-2)
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Cluytens, l’O.R.T.F., 1960. DVD)
- John Harle
- Milhaud, La Creation du Monde (Rattle, London Sinfonietta, EMI D172226)
- Fred Hemke
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Ozawa, Chicago Symphony, RCA)
- Bizet, L’Arlésienne Suites (Martinon, Chicago Symphony, RCA)
- Shostakovich, Age of Gold (Stokowski, Chicago Symphony, RCA)
- Ravel, Bolero (Martinon, Chicago Symphony, Camden)
- Ravel, Bolero (Solti, Chicago Symphony, Decca)
- Burl Lane
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Järvi, Chicago Symphony, Chandos)
- Weill, Threepenny Opera Suite (Chicago Pro Musica, Reference Recordings)
- Gary Louie
- Rachmaninoff, Symphonic Dances (Zinmann, Baltimore Symphony, Telarc CD-80331)
- Joseph Lulloff
- Milhaud, La Creation du Monde (Hobson, Sinfonia da Camera, Arabesque 6569)
- Marcel Mule
- Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Casals, Prades Festival Orchestra, Cascavelle 3061)
- Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Klemperer, Pro Musica Orchestra, Vox Legends 7812)
- Bizet, L’Arlésienne Suites (Cluytens, L’Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise, Testament SBT-1235)
- Harvey Pittel
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Mehta, New York Philharmonic, Columbia 35154)
- Weill, Stratas Sings Weill (Schwartz, Y Chamber Symphony, Nonesuch 97131)
- Kenneth Radnofsky
- Berg, Violin Concerto (Ozawa, Boston Symphony, Deutsche Grammophon 447445)
- Ravel, Bolero (Haitink, Boston Symphony, Philips 456569)
- Waxman, A Place in the Sun (Mauceri, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Philips D 125299)
- Albert Regni
- Milhaud, La Creation du Monde (Weisberg, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Nonesuch 71281)
- Weill, Three-Penny Opera (Weisberg, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Nonesuch 71281)
- Ravel, Bolero (Boulez, New York Philharmonic, Columbia)
- Ravel, Bolero (Masur, New York Philharmonic, Teldec)
- Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue (Masur, New York Philharmonic, Teldec 3984-26202-2)
- Prokofiev, Lt. Kiji (Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Columbia)
- Shostakovich, Age of Gold (Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Columbia)
- Berg, Lulu Suite (Boulez, New York Philharmonic, Columbia)
- Berg, Lulu (Levine, Metropolitan Opera Orch., Deutsche Grammophon)
- Berg, Lulu (Mazur, New York Philharmonic, Teldec)
- Prokofiev, Romeo & Juliet (Masur, New York Philharmonic, Teldec)
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Levine, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon 437531)
- Ron Reuben
- Ravel, Bolero (Muti, Philadelphia Orchestra, EMI) *Raoul Querze, soprano saxophone
- Debra Richtmeyer
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Mata, Dallas Symphony, RCA)
- Donald Sinta
- Ravel, Bolero (Jarvi, Detroit Symphony, Chandos 6615)
- Larry Teal
- Bizet, L’Arlésienne Suites (Paray, Detroit Symphony, Mercury 434321-2)
- Ravel, Bolero (Paray, Detroit Symphony, Mercury 434306-2) *Herb Couf, tenor sax
- Carl Waxman
- Walton, Façade (Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sony)
- Moussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sony)
- Ravel, Bolero (Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sony)
- Bizet, L’Arlésienne Suites (Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sony 48159)