Håkon Kornstad, saxophone & operatic tenor – The Tenor Who Plays Tenor

By using his imagination and a simple electronic device to record and play back loops as he performs, Håkon Kornstad realizes in concert the idea so aptly expressed by the title of his album Symphonies in My Head. His instrumental skill is unsurpassed: beautiful tone on whichever saxophone he selects, percussive sounds made by the use of the instrument’s keys and tonguing techniques, a colorful palette broadened by the expert use of overtones. Rhapsodic, improvised melodies glide over sonic layers that grow into an orchestral accompaniment. This artistic richness would be enough for most, but Kornstad’s restless curiosity took him into unexpected territory. He found new inspiration in opera and developed his voice as an operatic tenor. Bringing his two tenors together, saxophonist and singer, he has created an unprecedented sound, an evocative “tenor battle” that emerges in the single person of this singular artist.