The 50th Anniversary International Organ Festival
at St Albans in 2013:
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Media Partner
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Festival 2013
Only days to the 50th Anniversary International Organ Festival at St Albans
The 2011/2012 series of recitals began on Saturday 17th September 2011
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Saturday 17 September 2011
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Saturday 15 October 2011
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Saturday 26 November 2011
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Saturday 21 January 2012
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Saturday 18 February 2012
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Saturday 24 March 2012
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Saturday 21 April 2012
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Saturday 26 May 2012
Click here to download a copy of the Recitals Program
Saturday 17 September 2011
St Albans Cathedral at 5.30pm
JAMES O'DONNELL UK
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Toccata | Francis Pott |
| Veni creator Spiritus | de Grigny | |
| Deuxième fantaisie | Alain | |
| Tanz-Toccata | Heiller | |
| Fantaisie in E flat | Saint-Saëns | |
| Suite op.5 | Duruflé |
James O’Donnell is organist and master of the choristers of Westminster Abbey and, since January 2011, president of the Royal College of Organists and a leading figure in British musical life. He has appeared in concert worldwide and was a featured artist at the American Guild of Organists’ National Convention in Chicago in 2006. In 2008 he played Messiaen’s Messe de la Pentecôte at the BBC Proms.
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Saturday 15 October 2011
St Saviour's Church, St Albans at 5.30pm
SAMUEL LIÉGEON France; Meet the Artist
1st Prize, Haarlem International Improvisation Competition 2010
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Improvisation: French suite in 5 movements | |
| Variations on a Galliard by John Dowland | Scheidt | |
| Concerto in D, first movement | Handel | |
| Fugue in G, BWV 577 | J.S. Bach | |
| Improvisation on a Ground | ||
| Fantasia in F minor, KV 608 | Mozart | |
| Sketches, op.58 nos.1 & 4 | Schumann | |
| Berceuse sur deux notes qui cornent | Alain | |
| Improvisation on a literary text |
Samuel Liégeon won first prize in the 2008 Improvisation Competition Boëllmann-Gigout in Strasbourg, and in 2010 first prize in the International Improvisation Competition in Haarlem. He has studied with Eric Lebrun and Pierre Pincemaille and at the Conservatoire Supérior de Musique, Paris, with Thierry Escaich and Philippe Lefebvre.
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Saturday 26 November 2011
St Albans Cathedral at 5.30pm
JOONHO PARK South Korea; Meet the Artist
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Sinfonia, Cantata no.29 Wir danken dir, Gott, BWV29 |
J.S. Bach |
| Sonata in G minor Wq 70/6 I. Allegro moderato II. Largo III. Allegro |
C.P.E. Bach | |
| from "Symphonie gothique" Op. 70 VI. Moderato - Allegro - Moderato - Andante - Allegro |
Ch-M. Widor | |
| Cantabile from "Trois pièces" | C. Franck | |
| Trois danses I. Joies II. Deuils III. Luttes |
J. Alain |
Joonho Park has won first prize at three International Organ Competitions: Dublin in 2011; Nuremberg in 2008 and Graz in 2006. He is currently a student of Jon Laukvik at the University of Performing Arts and Music in Stuttgart. He has performed in concert at prestigious venues throughout Europe and Asia and is quickly establishing himself as one of the outstanding organists of his generation.
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Saturday 21 January 2012
St Albans Cathedral at 5.30pm
THIERRY ESCAICH France
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Prelude & Fugue in G minor | Brahms |
| Herzliebster Jesu | Brahms | |
| Choral-étude on Herzliebster Jesu | Thierry Escaich | |
| In dir ist freude, BWV 615 | J.S. Bach | |
| Choral-étude on Nun freut euch, ihr Christen | Thierry Escaich | |
| Herzlich tut mich verlangen | Brahms | |
| Choral-étude on O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden | Thierry Escaich | |
| Christ ist erstanden, BWV 627 | J.S. Bach | |
| Choral-étude on Christ ist erstanden | Thierry Escaich | |
| Toccata (from Suite, op.5) | Duruflé | |
| Romance and Final (from Organ Symphony no.4) | Vierne | |
| Improvisation: Tryptique on two given themes |
Thierry Escaich is organist of St-Étienne-du-Mont (succeeding Maurice Duruflé) and tours on all continents as an organist and composer. He is one of the most prominent and original figures in French music today whose music has been performed by many of the leading ensembles of our time, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris and New York City Ballet.
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Saturday 18 February 2012 AGM Recital
St Albans Cathedral at 5.30pm
JANE PARKER-SMITH UK Meet the Artist
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Introduction and Passacaglia | Arild Sandvold |
| Prière, op.20 | Franck | |
| Mephisto Waltz no.1 | Liszt | |
| Andante appassionato | Enrique Soro | |
| Sonata no.1 in D minor, op.42 | Guilmant |
Jane Parker-Smith is one of the leading concert organists renowned especially for her performances of the virtuoso repertoire. Following advanced studies with Nicolas Kynaston and the legendary Jean Langlais in Paris, she embarked on a solo concert career that has taken her to all parts of the globe.
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Saturday 24 March 2012
St Peter's Church, St Albans at 5.30pm
STEPHEN DISLEY and the AMADEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, conducted by SIMON THOMPSON
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Prelude & Fugue in G BWV 550 | J S Bach |
| Holberg Suite for Strings | Grieg | |
| Sonata no. 6 in D minor | Mendelssohn | |
| Elegy for Strings | Elgar | |
| Organ Concerto in Eb, H446 Wq35 | CPE Bach |
The St Albans based Amadeus Chamber Orchestra is joined by Stephen Disley in a programme of well known works for organ and orchestra. Stephen Disley is one of the best known organists of his generation through his regular performances at the Royal Albert Hall, his work with the BBC Singers and as Assistant Organist of Southwark Cathedral.
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Saturday 21 April 2012
St Saviour's Church, St Albans at 5.30pm
YUKA ISHIMARU Japan; Grand Prix, Chartres International Organ Competition 2010
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Fantasia super Komm, heiliger Geist, BWV 651 | J.S. Bach |
| Ciaccona in F minor | Pachelbel | |
| Fantasia & Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 | J.S. Bach | |
| Cloudscape | Hosokawa | |
| Fantasia in F minor, KV 608 | Mozart | |
| Organ Sonata in B flat major, op.65 no.4 | Mendelssohn |
Yuka Ishimaru studied in her native Japan and at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Hans Fagius. In 2011, she will embark on a concert tour of Europe and the USA at various festivals and venues as the first prize winner of the Chartres International Ogan Competition.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
St Albans Cathedral at 5.30pm
GERARD BROOKS UK Meet the Artist
Concert d’anniversaires
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Prelude in C | Massenet |
| Fantaisie dialoguée; Ronde française | Boëllmann | |
| Trois pièces | Ibert | |
| Marche solennelle; Suite Carmelite | Françaix | |
| Andantino | Emmanuel | |
| Arabesque | Debussy | |
| Rumba sur les Grands Jeux | Pierre Cholley |
Gerard Brooks is one of the leading performers and writers on French organ music. His recordings, particulary of Gigout and Saint-Saëns, have been widely acclaimed. He is artistic director of the London Organ Improvisation Course and a much sought-after teacher of both interpretation and improvisation.
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ADMISSION TO THE CONCERTS IS FREE There will be a retiring collection in aid of the International Organ Festival Society. To enable us to maximize the benefit of your donation, please use the gift-aid envelopes that will be provided. The series is promoted by The International Organ Festival Society, a registered charity No: 1006151 The organisers reserve the right to change or amend the published programmes. |
Recitals Archive
You can read see the programs for previous Organ Concert series here:
Meet the Artist Archive
You can read interviews with artists from our concert series in our Meet the Artist archives
