The Golden
Age of
the Saxophone

A Rising Norwegian Saxophone Star

The young Norwegian saxophonist Soran Lind is a new name to watch on the international classical music scene. On Stage 2, he takes the audience back to the saxophone’s golden age, the time when the instrument truly found its place in classical music. He is joined by pianist Eirik Haug Stømner.

Championing the Classical Saxophone

It took a long time before the classical saxophone developed its own repertoire in classical music. The instrument was invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s, but its real breakthrough did not come until the interwar period.
“The saxophone is actually somewhat frowned upon in the field, especially in Norway. It is one of the few instruments not included in symphony orchestras. This is partly because the instrument was not invented until the 1840s. Some composers were even banned for including the saxophone in their works,” Lind has previously said to Ballade.

French Repertoire

In France, a wave of new compositions emerged that elevated the saxophone to a high artistic status. Virtuosos such as Marcel Mule commissioned and premiered works by contemporary composers, helping to create what is often referred to as the saxophone’s golden age, roughly from 1920 to 1950.
The programme reflects this period. It features composers such as Eugène Bozza, Paule Maurice, Florent Schmitt and Alfred Desenclos, all key figures in the French tradition that shaped the classical identity of the saxophone.
From Demersseman’s brilliant Fantasy on an Original Theme to Bozza’s lyrical Aria and Maurice’s colourful Scenes of Provence, the music reveals the instrument’s expressive range, from lyrical elegance to technical virtuosity.
Familiar music by Georges Bizet and Darius Milhaud also gains new life through the sound world of the saxophone.

Determined to Prove It Can Be Done

The programme has already delighted audiences internationally. When Lind performed it at the Musikverein in Vienna in the summer of 2025, the concert ended with a standing ovation from a sold-out hall. In 2026, he will also record his debut album for Genuin Classics.
Despite widespread beliefs that a solo career on the classical saxophone is difficult, Soran Lind has followed his own path.
“I am stubborn. I decided to prove that it can be done and just go for it.”
This determination has led to dozens of concerts in Germany, and fortunately also in Norway. On Second Stage, Lind presents a programme that combines high artistic quality with immediate appeal, offering a concert experience that both seasoned concertgoers and new audiences can enjoy.