Organ Concert: Olivier Latry

Olivier Latry is organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris and organ professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. His nomination at the first Cathedral of France, at the age of 23, propelled him onto the international scene: he has appeared in more than 50 countries and on all five continents, as a recitalist or with orchestra, acting as unofficial ambassador for French organ music, which he endeavours to present alongside the art of improvisation. He also has a particular interest in contemporary music and has premièred works by many of today’s composers.

His recordings include the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen (Deutsche Grammophon), and Poulenc's Organ Concerto and Barber's Toccata Festiva with the Philadelphia Orchestra (Ondine). More recently, he has recorded two CDs on Naïve: a recital on Alkan’s 1853 Érard pedal piano (works by Boëly, Schumann, Brahms, Alkan, and Liszt), and three centuries of organ music at Notre-Dame de Paris, an homage to his predecessors at the Cathedral. For his work in the field of organ performance and studies, Olivier Latry was awarded the Prix Del Duca in 2000, as well as honorary fellowships from the North and Midlands School of Music (2006), the Royal College of Organists (2007), and McGill University in Montreal (2010). The American Guild of Organists also awarded him the title of International Performer of the Year in April 2009 in New York. He has been Organist Emeritus of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra since December 2012.

Programme

Liszt Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale 'Ad nos, ad salutarem undam'
Widor Andante sostenuto (from the Symphonie gothique)
Vierne Organ Symphony No. 4 in G minor - final movement
Debussy La Cathédrale engloutie (transcription: Léon Roques)
Dupré Prelude and fugue in G minor, op. 7
Latry Improvisation