Dúo Icarus

Dúo Icarus: The combination of saxophone and guitar is quite unusual as a chamber music ensemble, due in part to the very different characteristics of both instruments.

It was the research on new instrumental and timbrical resources what inspired Alfonso Padilla and Alberto Plaza to establish this singular duo in 2009. The group makes use of two very popular instruments in a new way, employing all the new techiques and possibilities of both instruments and developing all the resources in a surprising way. Since their debut, Icarus duo has been performing in recitals and festivals in Spain and abroad, such us the Scandinavian Saxophone Festival (Denmark, 2013), XVII World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg (France, 2015), Eventosax in Rome (Italy, 2016), Festival Figures Sonores VI in Alger (Algeria, 2018) and XVIII World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb (Croacia, 2018). Its members have a huge musical background as international soloist and as members of other chamber music groups and also they teach at very important musical institutions in Spain and abroad as guest teachers in masterclasses and workshops. Its repertoire is wide and includes pieces originally written for this instruments and also transcriptions of the greatest compousers of the music that help to show the possibilities of this chamber music duo. Their goal is to continue encouraging composers to write for this combination to increase and enhance the original repertoire.