Los Angeles, CA (November 15, 2016) - The Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2016/17 organ recital series begins with a performance from organist Philippe Lefebvre on Sunday, November 27, 2016, at 7:30 PM. Making his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut, Lefebvre surveys four centuries of music associated with Notre-Dame de Paris featuring works by Marchand, Séjan, Vierne, Dupré, and Duruflé, and an improvisation by Lefebvre.

Since 1985 Philippe Lefebvre has been organist-titular of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He discovered the organ at age 16; on the advice of Pierre Cochereau, then Organist of Notre Dame, he began studies in organ and improvisation, first at the Conservatory in Lille and then in Paris. In 1971 he was awarded the first prize in organ and improvisation from the National Conservatory and first prize in counterpoint and fugue. He also won first prize in improvisation at Lyon and one year later first prize in the prestigious Chartres Cathedral international competition. 

In 1976 he was appointed titular (head) organist of Chartres Cathedral, then in 1985 was appointed as titular organist of Notre Dame Cathedral along with Olivier Latry and Jean-Pierre Leguay. From 1980-2003 he was director of the National Conservatory of Lille, where he enlarged the oldest music, theater, and dance school in France. From 2003 until 2014 he was Professor of Improvisation at the Paris Conservatory. 

Inaugurated in 2004 at the opening of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's second season in Walt Disney Concert Hall, the organ's striking visual design was a collaboration between Frank Gehry and organ builder Manuel Rosales. The organ is voiced with a wide dynamic range - from pianississimo to a breathtaking fortissimo that can obliterate the sounds of a full orchestra. The specially curved wood façade pipes are actual playing pipes that were made by Glatter-Götz Orgelbau in Germany and consist of the Violone and Bassoon basses. Behind the façade are three levels of pipes, including metal pipes made of tin and lead alloys and wood pipes made of Norwegian pine. The organ, affectionately called "Hurricane Mama," was so named by musical visionary Terry Riley after a night of improvising. 

See below for the 2016/17 organ recital series at Walt Disney Concert Hall: 

Sunday, November 27, 2016, at 7:30 PM
http://www.laphil.com/tickets/organ-recital-philippe-lefebvre/2016-11-27

Philippe Lefebvre, organ

MARCHAND: Dialogue, from Troisième Livre
SÉJAN: Variations sur un Noël suisse
FRANCK: Pièce héroïque Program Notes
DEBUSSY (arr. Lefebvre): Clair de Lune
VIERNE: Allegro, from Organ Symphony No. 2
DUPRÉ: Cortège et Litanie
DURUFLÉ: Prélude et fugue sur le nom d'Alain
Philippe LEFEBVRE: Improvisation

Sunday, February 5, 2017, at 7:30 PM
http://www.laphil.com/tickets/organ-recitals-james-mcvinnie/2017-02-05

James McVinnie, organ
Liam Byrne, viola da gamba
Chris Thompson, marimba

MUHLY: Rev Mustard his installation prelude
MUHLY: 7 O Antiphon Preludes
MUHLY: Drones for Viola da Gamba
MUHLY: Slow Twitchy Organs
MUHLY: Fast Cycles
MUHLY: Beaming Music
GIBBONS: Fantasia in G minor
HANDEL: Organ Concerto in G minor, Op. 4 No. 1
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Romanza from Symphony No. 5 arr R Quinney
MESSIAEN: La joie de la grâce
MESSIAEN: Prière après la communion
STRAVINSKY: Berceuse and Finale from The Firebird

Sunday, April 2, 2017, at 7:30 PM
http://www.laphil.com/tickets/organ-recitals-felix-hell/2017-04-02

Felix Hell, organ

BACH (arr. Hell): Goldberg Variations

Sunday, May 21, 2017, at 7:30 PM
http://www.laphil.com/tickets/organ-recital-iveta-apkalna/2017-05-21

Iveta Apkalna, organ

PROGRAM: TBA

For more information and full artist biographies, please visit LAPhil.com

Tickets for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2016/17 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall are currently available. To purchase, please visit LAPhil.com or the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office. To order by phone with credit card or for more information, please call 323.850.2000.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music Director & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres - orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop - at two of L.A.'s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.HollywoodBowl.com). The LA Phil's season extends from September through June at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs.

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