OLIVIER LATRY (organ, France)
SUZANNE VAN SOLDT – Sept Danses (Seven Dances) from the manuscripts possessed by Suzanne van Sold
DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE – Passacaille (Passacaglia), BuxWV 161
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Concerto in A minor, BWV 593 (arrangement of Concerto for two violins in A minor, RV 522 by Antonio Vivaldi)
JEAN-FRANÇOIS DANDRIEU – Variations on the theme of Christmas carol Joseph est bien marié (Joseph is Well Married)
CLAUDE BALBASTRE – Air (excerpt from Livre d’orgue de Dijon/Organ Book of Dijon)
GASTON LITAIZE – Scherzo
VINCENT PAULET – Élégie (Elegy, dedicated to Olivier Latry)
JEHAN ALAIN – Litanies, JA 119
OLIVIER LATRY – Improvisation
The Vilnius Festival’s genre geography extends to the vastness of organ music, shining with masterpieces that have stood the test of time and radiate an aura of sacredness. This programme (ranging from pieces from perhaps the oldest source of Dutch keyboard music – manuscripts possessed by Suzanne van Sold – to the great Baroque composers and the performer’s own improvisations) is presented by a guest from France, the renowned organ maestro of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Olivier Latry.
He became the organist of the famous cathedral at the age of 23, taking over this prestigious position from the legendary Pierre Cocherau. Even then, he was described as a thoughtful and courageous musician who explored all possible areas of organ music and was distinguished by his exceptional talent for improvisation. The organist is recognized worldwide, performing not only as a soloist but also with the world’s most famous orchestras conducted by eminent conductors. His recording of Olivier Messiaen’s complete organ works, and last year’s album of César Franck were released by the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label. Among his many other recordings, the following are particularly noteworthy Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 with conductor Christoph Eschenbach and the Philadelphia Orchestra (Ondine); the album Trois Siècles d’Orgue à Notre-Dame de Paris (Naïve), featuring compositions by former and current organists of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame; a solo concert on the Rieger organ at the Paris Philharmonic (Warner Classics); albums Bach to the Future, Liszt Inspirations (La Dolce Volta) and others. The maestro’s repertoire embraces not only music from the 17th–20th centuries, but also contemporary works; he is the first performer of works by such prominent composers as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Pascal Dusapin, Kaija Saariaho, Michael Gandolfi. This concert will also feature a composition by Vincent Paulet dedicated to organist Olivier Latry.
Free admission
Concert partners – Sacred Music Centre in Vilnius, French Institute in Lithuania
