Tomasi "Ballade":Kerkezos/Stolbov/Matina/Brasov Philharmonic.

Libretto/saxophone: Theodore Kerkezos based on Suzanne Mallard's poem. Conductor: Ivan Stolbov
Choreography/Pantomime: Matina Velimachiti
Brasov Philharmonic Orchestra
Few words:
During a very trying period recently, I recalled my conversations with my great mentor Jean-Marie Londeix (a friend of Tomasi's), who analyzed the Ballade for me, where I suddenly felt an urge to write. I picked up a pen and, while listening to the Ballade, I composed a poem as if I were taking dictation, in a burst of inspiration. Inspired by a poem by Suzanne Mallard (Tomasi’s wife whose work inspired the composer), the text speaks of an old clown whose life is unexpectedly filled with sadness. In a failed attempt to share this misery with his faithful audience he realizes the great void that separates them from him. The clown yearns for the audience's sympathy, while they are solely interested in his funny act. Dressed in black and white, the clown’s suit symbolizes the antithesis of happiness and sadness. Through this experience, the clown turns inward, searches, discovers, learns, evaluates, and with renewed self-knowledge he makes his decision... In this programmatic work we identify two types of melodies; the merry ones that are given to the orchestra (representing the public), and merry, sad, or tragic ones given to the saxophone (representing the clown). Tomasi's beautiful themes, as well as the text, encourage us to ruminate upon the divide in human relationships, our insecurities and contradictions, but above all, a love offering to our fellow man.
Theodore Kerkezos
World premiere: 19 May 2017, Kerkezos sax., Matina pantomime, Athens State Philharmonic, Kimbo Ishii conductor, The Athens Megaron Concert Hall.
CD: "Ballades for Saxophone and Orchestra"
Kerkezos/London Philharmonic/Roberto Minczuk
Naxos 8.557454