Russell Peterson
Saxophone
Saxophonist bringing a rarely heard concerto, "Saxophone Noir," to Fairfax audiences.
In short
Russell Peterson is a saxophonist appearing as soloist with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, performing Hochstatter's Saxophone Noir Concerto No. 1. The concert also features Leshnoff's Radiance and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3. This appearance is the information available in our directory about him.
What to listen for
Listeners coming to hear Peterson should expect the saxophone cast in a role it rarely plays in the concert hall, as a solo voice against a full orchestra rather than in a jazz combo or wind band. The concerto's title, "Saxophone Noir," suggests a moody, cinematic character, likely leaning on the instrument's smoky low register and its capacity for both sultry lyricism and sharp rhythmic bite. Paired with Leshnoff's "Radiance," a work built on sustained, glowing orchestral textures, and capped by Rachmaninoff's turbulent, melody-rich Third Symphony, the program moves from shimmer to shadow to grand late-Romantic sweep, giving the saxophone concerto a distinct color against its surroundings.
Written by OrchestraFinder, reviewed September 2026.