Organs of the World – London, Paris, Philadelphia - NOSPR

London, Paris and Philadelphia – three cities and three extraordinary instruments. This programme takes us on a journey through music written to mark the inauguration of famous organs or, in one case, music that was intended to do so.

In 1871, Edward John Hopkins composed Andante grazioso especially for the inauguration of the great organ at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Seven years later, Alexandre Guilmant took his seat at the newly built organ in the Palais du Trocadéro in Paris and included Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor among the works performed at its inaugural concert. The Trocadéro is also associated with César Franck’s Pièce héroïque, premiered by the composer himself a few weeks later during the first series of organ concerts held in the hall. The most ironic story, however, is that of Joseph Jongen's Symphonie concertante. This monumental work was written for the famous Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia and was intended to be performed at the celebrations marking the reopening of the instrument following its enlargement. The concert never took place, however, and the work had to wait more than eighty years before finally being performed on the instrument for which it had been written. At NOSPR, we will hear its concluding Toccata.

During the concert, Marcin Majchrowski and organist Arkadiusz Bialic will explore the stories behind each of these remarkable places and works.

Concert duration: approximately 60 minutes

Free admission. Seating is limited. Free unreserved tickets will be available from the NOSPR box office from 24 August.