Savedoff, Allen

Multi-reed musician who attended the Hartt School of Music, the University of Hartford, and the University of Michigan. Although he can play the clarinet, flute and saxophone, his specialty is the contrabassoon.

Groups with whom he has worked include the California Philharmonic Orchestra, the Glendale Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, Music Center Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, the Pasadena Symphony, and Southwest Chamber Music.

On 27^th September 2007, the Pacific Symphony interpreted Maurice Ravel’s “Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2” and “Piano in D for the Left Hand”, with Marc-Andre Hamelin at the keys.

The California Philharmonic presented a mostly cinematic affair at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in August 2009. Allen shone as saxophone soloist on “As Time Goes By” from Casablanca.

On 7^th October 2009, he and bassist Ken Wild, percussionist Timm Boatman and pianist Alan Steinberger appeared at the First Baptist Church of Glendale. Their program, “Expect the Unexpected: A Bassoon & Contrabassoon Recital”, featured works from his Standing on Chairs CD.

The American Ballet Theatre and Pacific Symphony teamed up for a production of Adolphe Adam’s Giselle in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in November 2009.

On 7^th September 2011, Allen and Alan reunited for a bassoon recital at the First Baptist Church of Glendale. Their recital included the “Bouree Anglaise” and “Sarabande” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Partita in A minor, BWV 1013”, William Bolcom’s “Graceful Ghost”, Alexandre Tansman’s “Sonatine”, and Gernot Wolfgang’s “Uncle Bebop”.

The Pacific Chorale and Symphony gave John Alexander’s 40^th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on 6^th November 2011. The celebration included John’s own “Musica”, Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Welten singen Dank und Ehre” from Christ on the Mount of Olives, Johannes Brahms’ “Schicksalslied, Op. 54”, Anton Bruckner’s “Psalm 150 in C, WAB 38”, Gerald Finzi’s “For St. Cecilia, Op. 30”, Jake Heggie’s “Seeking Higher Ground: Bruce Springsteen Rocks New Orleans, April 30, 2006” and Mortin Lauridsen’s “Ubi Caritas et Amor”.

In November 2011, the Pacific Symphony offered up a double-header of Gustav Mahler. “Ruckert-Lieder” were performed by baritone Christopheren Nomura and pianist Hye-Young Kim. The evening was capped off by the master’s “Symphony No. 9 in D major”.

They performed Frederic Chopin’s “Concerto No. 2 in F minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 21” with pianist Dejan Lazic, Osvaldo Golijov’s “Sidereus” and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64” in January 2012.

In the spring of 2012, they rejoined the American Ballet Theatre in Segerstrom Hall for “Duets” by John Cage and Merce Cunningham, “Firebird” by Alexei Ratmansky and Igor Stravinsky, and “Thirteen Diversions” by Benjamin Britten and Christopher Wheeldon.

Maxim Eshkenazy was their conductor in May 2012 when they unveiled “Cirque de la Symphonie”, a robust affair that opened with Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and closed with George Bizet’s “Les Toreadors” from Carmen.

Recordings on which Allen appears include his own Contra Diction, Savoir Faire and Standing on Chairs, Farkle and Friends by John Lithgow, Highway Rider by Brad Mehldau, Serenada Schizophrana by Danny Elfman, and Sons of Noah by Stephen Hartke.

He can also be heard on the soundtracks of The Adventures of TinTin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Bridge to Terabithia, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Dark Water, Domestic Disturbance, Hidalgo, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, John Carter, The Last Airbender, Miracle, Peter Pan, Robots, The Skeleton Key, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Uninvited, and War of the Worlds.

In the field of music education, he has served on the faculties of Augusta College and St. Cloud State University.

Sources:

Savedoff, Allen

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