Duo Aster: Saxophone as You’ve Never Heard It Before

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With their debut album, Nostos, released in February on the Leaf Music label, Duo Aster—saxophonist Clio Theodoridis and pianist Jonathan Nemtanu—deliver a deeply personal work, inspired by travel and cultural exchange. The album’s title is borrowed from the Greek idea of a return home after a long absence—a concept that runs through the entire project. “This album reflects who we are. Like the pieces that make it up, we come from a mix of cultures and we met here in Quebec,” explains Theodoridis.

Born in Athens, the Franco-Greek saxophonist grew up in Greece before continuing her studies in Lyon, Strasbourg and then in Montreal, where she completed a master’s degree and a PhD at Université de Montréal. Now based in Quebec, she teaches the saxophone at the Conservatoire de musique de Saguenay. Nemtanu, meanwhile, studied in Bordeaux and Vienna before obtaining a master’s degree in cultural organization management at HEC Montréal. In addition to his career as a pianist, he is executive director of Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal.

Together, the two musicians champion a repertoire that is still rarely heard on classical stages. “Our mission is to raise awareness of the classical repertoire written specifically for the saxophone, particularly for saxophone and piano,” says Theodoridis. While the saxophone is often associated with jazz or popular music, its classical repertoire remains little known to the general public. Nostos aims to reveal its full expressive richness, through works by Pedro Itturalde, Fazıl Say, Alexis Ciesla and Quebec composer Mathieu Lussier.

Certain pieces hold a particular significance in their musical journey. “Ocres rouges has a special flavour, as it was one of the first pieces we worked on together, and it was this piece that convinced us to promote repertoire written specifically for the classical saxophone,” says Theodoridis. Itturalde’s Suite Hellénique also resonates deeply with her roots. “It features traditional dances that I used to sing and dance to during my childhood in Crete,” she adds.

The Aster Duo has just returned from a 20-concert tour across Canada with Jeunesses Musicales Canada. “The audience was pleasantly surprised to discover the saxophone in a classical setting—and, what’s more, played by a woman,” notes Nemtanu. This commitment to making classical music more accessible is also being pursued through a collaboration with Le Baptême, a series of workshop-concerts aimed at primary schools. With the theme of travel, the duo introduces children to the musical colours of the world—the styles, rhythms and emotions that run through music. It is a playful way of imparting key listening skills and inspiring young listeners to explore the world of classical music for themselves.