Olivier Latry, chief organist at Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral and one of the world’s finest organists, will give what will certainly be an outstanding recital on Benaroya’s Watjen organ on October 11. The program is promoted by Seattle Symphony.
This is not Latry’s first Seattle appearance. He gave a fine recital in St James’s Cathedral on February 2008, playing mainly music by French composers, and concluding with a remarkable improvisation on a theme given to him by Father Michael Ryan, dean of the Cathedral.
This time, at Benaroya, his program goes wider: Bach’s thrilling Toccata and Fugue in F, Cesar Franck’s inspiring B minor Chorale, some Schumann organ pieces (to celebrate the composer’s birth two centuries ago), and Liszt’s phenomenal Fantasia and Fugue on Bach.
He will end with an improvisation. People who have never heard and seen fine music being extemporised before their eyes and ears should not miss a literally unrepeatable experience; and people who want to hear the King of Instruments played to the highest possible standard should not fail to go. Tickets at the Symphony's website.
Crosscut Tout: A master organist at Benaroya
Olivier Latry returns from Paris's Notre Dame for a wide-ranging recital on Oct. 11. The highlight will be an improvisation to end the concert.
Olivier Latry at the organ of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral.
Olivier Latry returns from Paris's Notre Dame for a wide-ranging recital on Oct. 11. The highlight will be an improvisation to end the concert.
