Internationally acclaimed conductor Mark Laycock, from the United States and living in Berlin, Germany, will be directing the Costa Rican Symphony Orchestra this upcoming Friday, September 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the National Theater.

The Orchestra will be sharing the stage with the Costa Rican Saxophone band Sonsax presenting the VII Concert of the Official Season 2018: Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra “The Orchestra Goes Out with a Musical “Bad-Boy” by Mark Laycock.

“This is the third time that Laycock will be conducting the Costa Rican Symphony Orchestra, but it is the first time that they will be playing one of his works which will be a national premier. This concert will also mark the debut of Sonsax in the Official Season of the National Orchestra”, says the press release by the Ministry of Culture.

“The presentation of Sonsax with the National Symphony Orchestra represents a historic event for the development of the saxophone in Costa Rica. This will be the first time that professional Costa Rican saxophonists are included in this prestigious season interpreting work that is reach in color and sound with a great level of complexity. The work of the composer and conductor Mark Laycock clearly exhibits the versatility of the saxophone from its creation, transporting Sonsax together with the National Symphony Orchestra in a great journey of styles and musical genders”, explained Javier Valerio, director of Sonsax.

Sonsax has 22 years of career and completed this July a concert tour through Europe and Asia.

Tickets for both dates can be purchased online at www.teatronacional.go.cr or directly at the theater’s ticket office, with prices going from 5 thousand colones (approximately $9.00) to 20 thousand colones (approximately $35.00).

Mark Laycock made his conducting debut at age 21 with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has conducted more than 2,00 works with a wide array of orchestras and opera companies in Europe and Asia as well as Israel, North America, Central and South America with orchestras of London, Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Mosco, Kiev, Montreal, Mexico City, among others. Laycock was also the Musical Director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for more than 20 years.