Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Offers Five Organ Recitals During the 05/06 Season

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2005 at 7:30 PM

Dame Gillian Weir makes her Walt Disney Concert Hall debut in an organ recital on Sunday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. Her performance is the first of five concerts presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association in its 2005/2006 Organ Recital Series. Her recital features Bonnet's Variations de concert, Op. 1, Six Dances from the collection of music publisher Pierre Attaignant; Bach's Trio Sonata in E minor (BWV 528); Eben's "Moto ostinato" from Sunday Music; Jongen's Sonata eroica, Op. 94, the Allegro vivace from Widor's Organ Symphony No. 5; "St Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves" from Liszt's Two Legends; and Ives' Variations on "America."

The recital concludes with Swiss organist and composer Guy Bovet's Salamanca and Hamburger Totentanz from his Three Hamburg Preludes, Op. 136. He wrote his three tongue-in-cheek Hamburg Preludes in 1987, based on improvisations he played in Hamburg with other organists. Gillian Weir describes the Hamburger Totentanz as the organ equivalent of Ravel's Bolero. Hidden in the rising waves of this work are numerous quotations, including references to Eben's "Moto ostinato" as well as more familiar bits from Saint-Saëns, Offenbach, Beethoven, and Wagner.

Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place one hour prior to each concert in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and are free to all ticket holders. At the October 16 Upbeat Live, Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ Conservator Phil Smith hosts a conversation with organ builder Manuel J. Rosales.

A visual centerpiece in the auditorium of Walt Disney Concert Hall, the organ was designed by architect Frank Gehry and built by Rosales of Rosales Organ Builders. The 6,134 pipes range in size from a pencil to a telephone pole, and are voiced with a wide dynamic range from super pianissimo to a breathtaking fortissimo. The specially curved wood façade pipes that comprise the Violone and Basson basses were made of solid, vertical-grain Douglas fir and installed by Glatter-Götz Orgelbau, Germany. 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 Recital Series continues on November 27, 2005 with David Higgs; January 15, 2006 with Diane Meredith Belcher; and finishes on April 23, 2006 with John Scott. In addition to the Organ Recital Series, organist Clark Wilson performs "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" in a non-subscription Halloween concert on October 31, 2005.

DAME GILLIAN WEIR, born in New Zealand but long a resident in England, is one of today's foremost organists. Her renown as a performer, which has stimulated numerous young players to follow her, is backed by her scholarly reputation; she is in demand as an adjudicator for all the leading international competitions and as a lecturer, broadcaster, teacher and writer, while her television appearances have reached vast new audiences. Her repertoire is exceptional in its breadth and variety, stretching from the Renaissance to contemporary works. She has received a host of prizes, awards and honors, and in 1996 was created Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in recognition of her distinguished services to music, after having been made CBE in 1989. Gillian Weir's achievements have been marked by the re-issue on compact disc of her legendary series of Argo recordings, and by her nomination by Classic CD magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Keyboard Players of the Century, as well as by the Sunday Times as one of the 1000 Music Makers of the Millennium. Gillian Weir's recent seasons have included performances throughout the USA, Germany, and Scandinavia, as well as the UK, where she crowned the sold-out gala concert at London's Royal Festival Hall celebrating the organ's 50th birthday with her 46th appearance at the prestigious concert hall.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2005 at 7:30 PM

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

DAME GILLIAN WEIR, organ

BONNET Variations de concert, Op. 1

Attaignant Collection Six Dances

BACH Trio Sonata in E minor, BWV 528

EBEN Moto ostinato from Sunday Music

JONGEN Sonata eroica, Op. 94

WIDOR Allegro vivace from Organ Symphony No. 5

LISZT (arr. Rogg) "St Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves" from Two Legends

IVES Variations on "America"

BOVET Salamanca and Hamburger Totentanz from Three Hamburg Preludes, Op. 136

Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place one hour prior to each concert in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and are free to all ticket holders. Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ Conservator Phil Smith in conversation with organ builder Manuel Rosales.

Tickets ($16-$43) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office, online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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