Knowing your audience and flexibility

As a classical saxophonist I believe that knowing your audience is vital. Considering the vast variety of genres in classical saxophone repertoire from the classic French pieces, the contemporary sounds of Berio and Denisov to new composers like Barry Cockroft who imitates chickens and rock music.

You may not play a concert full of quirky pieces like Cockcroft for avid classical and baroque listeners, however if you were to play for an audience used to listening to more popular music you probably wouldn’t want to play such a serious piece by composers like Berio.

Therefore I think it takes a lot of personal restraint not to roll up on stage and play 10 of your personal favourites, but instead to consider your audience and have the diversity and passion for your instrument to play anything for an audience and love it as much as if they were your 10 favourites.