Llewellyn Hall, ANU, Canberra
September 5, 2018

While this concert of evocative orchestral music at Llewellyn Hall opened with the Fanfare for the Common Man by Copland, all other pieces were by French composers – and to celebrate the 100th anniversary year of the death of Claude Debussy, his Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra. The Canberra Symphony Orchestra under conductor Nicholas Milton were joined by Australian saxophonist Nick Russoniello, who was soloist for two pieces and performed in the orchestra.

Copland’s inspiration for his Fanfare for the Common Man came from a 1942 speech during the Second World War, when the American Vice President Henry A. Wallace proclaimed the coming century to be that of the common man. Copland echoed that sentiment: “It was the common man, after all, who was doing all the dirty work in the war and the army. He deserved a fanfare.” This piece has been used to speak for nature, sport, space exploration and humanity. The CSO made the music sound like it was right for all those occasions and more.

The atmospheric and cryptic Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra by Debussy is filled with his characteristic subtleties and vivid colours with that restless and...