The Alliage Quintett is the most charming fusion of four saxophones and a piano. Unique to this ensemble, which has been awarded two Echo Klassik prizes, is a sound that convincingly evokes the fullness of a large orchestra while also preserving the melodic and expressive capabilities of a saxophone quartet—a winning combination that yields a fascinating listening experience of the highest quality.

The quintet was founded by Daniel Gauthier, Germany’s first professor of classical saxophone (at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne). The ensemble’s founder and soprano saxophonist is joined by three of today’s best saxophone soloists: Miguel Vallés Mateu (alto), Simon Hanrath (tenor) and Sebastian Pottmeier (baritone). The quintet is completed by the pianist Jang Eun Bae, an experienced and well-versed chamber musician.

The Alliage’s core repertoire consists of masterpieces from all eras which have been cleverly and sensitively arranged for the ensemble. Current programmes include Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. With its unique programmes, the Alliage Quintett successfully straddles the fine line between subtle chamber music and sophisticated entertainment, and regularly sells out major concert halls and festivals throughout Germany and the rest of Europe, in addition to concerts in Turkey, the United States, Canada, Korea and Australia, where they toured extensively with renowned clarinettist Sabine Meyer. In 2015 the quintet was given the honour of performing in the opening concert of the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France.

In addition to several radio broadcasts, the ensemble has so far released seven albums; the first, Una voce poco fa, received the renowned Echo (now Opus) Klassik award in 2005. For their second recording—À la recherche du rêve perdu—the five musicians travelled back in time to Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, to confront his instrument with works of his contemporaries Mendelssohn and Schumann. Masquerade, featuring arrangements of Bach and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, was released on Sony Classical. Voyage Russe, also on Sony, focused on the ‘Belle Époque Russe’ and was accompanied by an extensive concert tour throughout Europe. The ensemble won another Echo Klassik award in 2014 for their fifth release, Dancing Paris; this was followed in 2016 by Fantasia, featuring Sabine Meyer and works by Borodin, Stravinsky, Bernstein, Shostakovich and Dukas. Lost in Temptation includes works by Saint-Saëns, Purcell’s Fairy Queen and an arrangement of Kurt Weill’s music from The Threepenny Opera.

Recent programmes include ‘Invitation to the dance’ with Sabine Meyer, ‘Belcanto’ with one of Germany’s foremost tenors Daniel Behle, songs and chansons with soprano Simone Kermes, and ‘Phantasy in blue’ with cellist Alban Gerhardt.