Newport Classical presents saxophone star Valentin Kovalev in November

As autumn unfolds, our fall season at Newport Classical continues to flourish. It remains a privilege to present extraordinary musicians in our City by the Sea year-round, bringing artists from around the world to perform in our Chamber Series at our home venue, the Newport Classical Recital Hall on Dearborn Street. We continue to hear from both performers and audience members alike that coming to our Recital Hall is a memorable experience. We’ve heard from audience members that these concerts are a perfect opportunity to gather with friends for a relaxed night out, listening to exceptional musicians in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. We’ve also heard from musicians who have performed in our hall that it is one of their favorite places to play, both because of the community that attends and the wonderful acoustics.

Newport Classical’s mission is “to celebrate the living art form of classical music in intimate and iconic locations.” We present the one-of-a-kind Newport Classical Music Festival, which takes place each July in Newport’s iconic mansions and uniquely intimate venues across Aquidneck Island; the Chamber Series at the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the Community Concerts Series, which brings free performances to families right in their own neighborhoods; and the Music Enrichment and Engagement Initiative which has inspired over 2,800 children and community members since 2021.

In November, Newport Classical presents a truly unique artist. Valentin Kovalev is redefining the voice of the saxophone for the 21st century, and he will make his Newport Classical debut on Nov. 21. Valentin has a remarkable story. Born in Siberia, his journey has taken him from the College of Frederic Chopin in Moscow to the Paris Conservatory, to the University of Michigan, and now to concert halls around the world. In 2022, he won the Naumburg Foundation International Saxophone Competition, which resulted in a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall. His list of accolades has continued to grow. He won the Concert Artists Guild Competition and the Astral Artists National Competition, and received significant awards from the Fondation pour la Vocation (France), the Rostropovich Foundation (Russia), and the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia.

One of the things that impresses me most about Valentin is his ability to connect deeply to his listeners and with the world around him, through music – from performing with acclaimed electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling for an audience of 6,000 people, to raising over $17,000 to purchase life-saving medical backpacks and resettle Ukrainian refugees through a benefit concert that he organized. Off stage, he cultivates an impressive online community of over 150,000 followers and has garnered more than 100 million views across his social media channels.

Valentin will connect with the Newport community beyond the concert hall as well. While here, he will visit the East Bay Community Action Program’s (EBCAP) Head Start preschool to perform for the students, as part of Newport Classical’s Music Enrichment and Engagement Initiative.

For his debut in Newport, Valentin has created a captivating program that showcases his unique blend of virtuosic brilliance and heartfelt expression. The concert features Schumann’s tender Fantasiestücke; Chaminade’s elegant Flute Concertino; Fazil Say’s vivid Suite for Saxophone and Piano; Debussy’s shimmering Rhapsody; and the spirited energy of Australian composer Barry Cockcroft’s KuKu. It concludes with a true showpiece, Mussorgsky’s beloved Pictures at an Exhibition, in an arrangement for saxophone and piano by Jun Nagao. We hope you will join us for this very special evening, with a very special artist.

We recently caught up with Valentin Kovalev to find out more about him, his concert, and what he is looking forward to about being in Newport.

Trevor Neal: You travel the country and the world performing. What are some of the rewards and challenges about doing this work?

Valentin Kovalev: I often find myself in a privileged position, where I’m blessed with this opportunity to travel and to connect with people across the world. The music unites all of us as the universal language. Is it challenging sometimes to hop on from one time zone to a twelve hour difference and perform the next day? Yes. But I love challenges. That is something that I have had to deal with all my life. Growing up in Siberia, I dreamt about forming a performing career and every step I take goes toward accomplishing that goal. I studied at the best conservatories across the world to learn the most important lesson on how to make people feel what I feel when I’m playing – to bring them on the journey, to tell them the story of this music.

I’m always very grateful to hear that my playing finds lots of resonance in others and inspires younger generations to pursue music as their profession. It warms my heart to meet people after performances who drove for many hours or even flew in from different cities to come see my performances in person.

Trevor Neal: Tell us a little bit about this concert program. How did you approach creating it?

Valentin Kovalev: I like to reflect my international background by offering a diverse array of composers. I often feel a lot of responsibility, because when people hear me play, they may not have ever heard a classical saxophone performance before. It’s always illuminating working with Amy Yang, who I am collaborating with for this program. We have performed at Carnegie Hall and presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, among other venues. She’s such a painter of sound. I learn so much from her artistry every time we play together. I thought it would be an interesting experiment to play Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition together. I will be bringing lots of different types of saxophones with me to help me create different colors!

Trevor Neal: What do you most want to convey to your audiences during a concert like this one?

Valentin Kovalev: I’m expressing myself through the saxophone which I find to be very close to the voice. The saxophone for me is like an extension of my body and is acting as my vocal cords. I like to think about music making as a laboratory – a place where we can experiment and create something that matters. The entire program is a living organism as it evokes so many different emotions. From Schumann’s passion to Chaminade’s lyricism, from Fazil Say’s Turkish folk to Cockcroft’s Australian farm life, from Debussy’s Impressionism to Mussorgsky’s descriptive scenes, this program will give everyone something special to take home!

Trevor Neal: Is there anything you’re looking forward to doing or seeing while you’re in Newport?

Valentin Kovalev: I’m coming to Newport with my wife and 2-year-old daughter who loves exploring nature! I’m looking forward to playing with her while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Tickets for all Newport Classical concerts can be purchased online at www.newportclassical.org/concerts.

Trevor Neal is the director of artistic planning at Newport Classical. His column appears monthly in The Newport Daily News and on newportri.com.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Valentin Kovalev performs during Newport Classical fall season