Air Mass
An unmissable & immersive musical experience that will ‘shatter the glass between the musicians and the audience’. (Limelight Magazine)
Air Mass, a new concert experience by award-winning saxophonist & composer Nick Russoniello redefines the boundaries of the solo saxophone recital. Expect a seamless blend of lyricism and groove as the program moves between the elegance of Telemann and Debussy to the energy of beatbox & Daft Punk. The concert also features Russoniello’s new original composition Air Mass.
The Golden Age Project
An infectious saxophone craze swept across post war U.S.A. The bubbling optimism of the time combined with the effect of virtuosi such as Rudy Wiedoeft sparked a mania; everyone wanted to play the sax. It was this era that transformed the image of the sax from novelty gimmick to king of cool. Today, the distinct sound of the 1920s saxophone has all but been forgotten…
For this exciting project I will team up with specialist historical ensemble the Golden Age Quartet and breathe new life into a rare original 1920s C-melody saxophone. Singing, swinging and soaring; this album will both re-imagine a forgotten musical language and present new Australian sounds; setting original music alongside alongside classics by Wiedoeft, Gershwin, Chaplin and Schullhoff.
This project represents an innovative direction in the classical music landscape, fusing new music with historically informed performance.
The Duo Histoire
Duo Histoire is one of Sydney’s finest emerging classical ensembles, always delivering fresh performances in a variety of musical styles. Their broad repertoire ranges from Argentinian tango to Spanish romantic music, from Bossa Nova standards to Classical repertoire. This unique combination of classical guitar and saxophone features award-winning musicians Murilo Tanouye and Nick Russoniello.
Since its formation in 2006, Duo Histoire has rapidly attracted the attention of audiences, appearing in music festivals and giving concerts across the country. Recently the Duo has recorded for ABC Classic FM, broadcast for Fine Music 102.5FM, performed at the Sydney Opera House for the prestigous Utzon Room Series, appeared as soloist with The Metropolitan Orchestra and toured for Musica Viva Australia.
Echoes of the Picture Palace Cine-Concert
https://nickrussonielloandthegoldenage.com
In the 1920s America fell in love with the movies; Hollywood’s first stars were born on the silver screens of silent films. Although silent in name, the films of the 1920s were shown in picture palaces where the images sprang to life through the music performed live. Award winning artists Nick Russoniello and the Golden Age Quartet reimagine the magic of the picture palace, performing on 1920s instruments. This concert features a screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Immigrant with a sparkling new musical score and the story of early cinema unfolds through a series of works by Camille Saint- Saëns, Rudy Wiedoeft and Charlie Chaplin.
Concerti Reimagined
This landmark project saw Nick compose three new saxophone concerti with the of support Creative Australia. Each new work explored ways to reimagine the traditional concerto format as contemporary performance art.
Concerto for Baritone Strings & You, composed by N. Russoniello and performed by Jay Byrnes and Queensland Chamber Orchestra. Premiered March 10th 2023 at the Orange Chamber Music Festival.
Where the Mountain: Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Orchestra composed by N. Russoniello and performed by Nick Russoniello & The Metropolitan Orchestra. Premiered May 28th 2023 TMO Met Season.
Body & Soul for Solo Soprano Saxophone & Strings, composed by N Russoniello and performed by Nick Russoniello & Steel City Strings. Premiered November 23rd 2023 for the Steel City Stings Concerto Season.