ALIGNING THE STARS WITH SAGITTARIUS

Sagittarius is a deeply personal journey of a Brisbane saxophonist, Emma di Marco, filled with introspection, courage, and sense of adventure. Developed over a period of seven years, and now part of Brisbane Music Festival, this concert thoughtfully balances fate with freewill, explores choice and expectation, and asks us to ponder on reaching for new heights and avoiding regret.

Opening with a work that references fire, we are thrown into a mix of oscillating sounds, sudden musical urges, quiet repose, and unexpected echoes. Fire is the symbol of Sagittarius, associated with passion, optimism and adventurous spirit. This fiery concert is put together with original compositions that question personal choices and work through self-doubt. With every music phrase the performer poses a question to her audience, looking for a common language of inherently human experience.

It is wonderful to see a saxophone performance in a chamber music setting. What is even more fantastic is hearing stories of camaraderie among Brisbane musicians. When Emma called a few saxophonists to ask if they would help with a backing for one of the pieces, she was delighted to hear that they were already coming to hear her perform. Playing with live musicians allowed her composition to really glow. Each of the guest performers had a loose structure to follow, and each was given the freedom of decision: five sax players on the same stage, speaking to each other through music while listening to one another intently. The piece felt like a breathing, pulsating organism, where the five body parts are intrinsically linked to each other and can only function in some kind of a mutual movement.

The highlight for me was the final work. Blooming with hope, new self-assurance, optimism and confidence, the piece felt like the end of a really good movie, conveying a journey of growth. The pre-recorded backing provides an alternate thought, with the saxophonist oscillating between the internal monologue and the conscious melody expressed outwardly. As the piece approaches its conclusion, organically the backing drops off and one single voice remains. A decision has been made and a path chosen. Just as Emma is “moving forward into a new phase of life”, we too are left with a re-invigorated sense of possibilities, ready to tackle our day, week, month, or year.

This concert is the perfect example of the kind of unique listening experience that is always afforded by Brisbane Music Festival. Under the artistic direction of pianist Alex Raineri, year after year, the festival brings absolute music gems to our local audiences, creating special opportunities to hear rarely (or never) performed compositions, and to have an up-close-and-personal experience with some undeservingly underappreciated instruments. Off the beaten track is exactly what you get, both with known classical and with very new, contemporary composers. So, if you would like to gift yourself an hour of an uplifting escapism before the year ends, the Brisbane Music Festival has six more unique concerts running until Sunday, 30 November 2025.