Sigurd Raschèr l

After moving to Berlin in 1930, he was called upon when the Berlin Philharmonic needed a saxophonist for a performance. Whilst working with the orchestra, he met conductor Edmund von Borck and together, they composed a concerto. Borck’s Concerto, Op. 6 for Saxophone and Orchestra, was performed at the General German Composers Festival in Germany in 1932. The performance was a success, and the following year, under the guidance of Eugen Jochum, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra performed in Berlin. In 1933,  Raschèr performed the concerto at Herman Scherchen’s International Musician’s Working Conference and in 1935 with Eduard van Beinum and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

In 1939, Raschèr made his American debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and was featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. He was the first saxophonist to appear as a soloist with both orchestras.

His career continued with solo performances around the United States. In 1945, he returned to Europe and travelled for months as a soloist with various orchestras. He also performed as a soloist with many orchestras and various university bands.

His last Saxophone solo performance was playing the Glazunov concerto for Saxophone and string orchestra with the Vermont Symphony in 1977.