On May 24-25, Naples will host the largest assembly of saxophonists ever held in Italy. The city has always been the epicenter for music and its music conservatory, San Pietro a Majella is the oldest in the world.
Over 250 sax players will arrive at the conservatory from throughout Italy and abroad to honor sax Professor Francesco Salime, who will retire this year. Prof. Salime was trained in Paris and has performed with artists such as Anderea Bocelli and Ennio Morricone. In his career, he has taught innumerable musicians who will now return with their students and colleagues creating a Sax Invasion of Napoli.
On May 24 at the conservatory, a ceremony will be held to announce the recipients of five scholarships in honor of Neapolitan saxophonist Giuseppe De Matola. This will be followed by a performance featuring Alessandro Malagnino, one of the greatest saxophonists in the world. As an acknowledgement of his contribution to Italian culture, Malagnino will receive a prize for exceptional artistic achievement by the Giuseppe De Matola Foundation.
After the awards, a concert, entitled “Napoli a New York” will feature Gershwin’s “Concert in F” (originally intended to be titled “New York Concerto”) performed by the saxophone ensemble of the conservatory with Prof. Salime and Armando Pagnotta featured soloists.
On Saturday, May 25, starting at 9 a.m. saxophone orchestras will arrive and each will play a medley for 30 minutes to allow all 14 groups an opportunity to play throughout the day. At noon, Prof. Luciano Inguaggio will exhibit and play his collection of vintage saxophones which he is bringing to Napoli from Palermo. At 5 p,m. all 250 saxophonists, each wearing a yellow and black t-shirt designed by Neapolitan artist Francesco Filippini, will exit the conservatory and wind their way through the streets of Napoli to the Royal Place where a gala concert will be performed in its courtyard. There, the 18th century walls will resonate with music worthy of a king.
All events are free and open to the public
