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2008 Recital Schedule
December 2007
Another globe-trotting year is scheduled for 2008 and many
events will be focusing on the music of Olivier Messiaen as descibed below.
Appearances have been established
in the USA, UK, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Wales and Canada.
See the engagements page for details.
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Spotlight: Olivier Messiaen 2008
October 2007
2008 marks the centenary of the birth of organist and composer Olivier Messiaen,
whose works have been a vital part of Dame Gillian's repertoire for over 40 years.
Beginning with a stunning performance of Combat de la mort et de la vie from Les Corps glorieux,
which secured the 1964 St Albans competition,
to the British première of
Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte
Trinité from the composer's own manuscript,
her public recitals
and recordings of Messiaen have consistently been definitive performances.
As was said of her recordings (BBC Music Magazine, Best CDs of 1994),
“This is a Messiaen cycle that should now enter the shelves of every devotee of his music as a preferred version”
and, of the re-release under the Priory label which includes additional works published posthumously
to make a truly complete intégrale,
“Gillian Weir's cycle remains the best of all, and she, playing the marvellous Frobenius instrument at Århus,
brings that special spaciousness and intensity to the
Livre that distinguishes her cycle as a whole... It is, quite simply, one of the finest organ recordings ever made.”
(Gramophone, October 2004 Awards Issue).
Is Messiaen unfamiliar to you? To gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the music
there are a number of
previous articles and interviews are captured on this site, as well as numerous reviews of the
recordings.
En souvenir is a reflection of Messiaen's life written by Gillian Weir
after his passing in 1992;
Transports de joie discusses his music after the recordings
were made in Århus.
Reviews of the fully complete works (and some audio samples) are to be found on the
discography section.
The following public performances and classes in 2008 will feature works by Messiaen:
- January 30, Stanford University, USA: Messiaen recital - An overview of Messiaen's organ music
- February 10, Peabody Conservatory, USA: Recital including Messe de la Pentecôte
- April 8-9, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas USA: Performance of Messe de la
Pentecôte and masterclass
- May 11, Durham Cathedral on Pentecost: Messe de la Pentecôte
- May 14, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral: various works of Messiaen
- May 17, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England: Messe de la Pentecôte interspersed
with liturgical works by Bach connected with the Mass
- May 24, Newbury Festival - St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, England: Organ
works of Messiaen interspersed with related works by other composers
- June 4, Haderslev Cathedral, Denmark: recital of organ works
- June 21, St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney: St Magnus festival - Messiaen and Bach
recital
- June 23, St Chads Birmingham: complete performance of the Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité, closing concert of the Messiaen 2008 International Centenary Conference
- July 12, London - venue to be announced: masterclass on Messiaen organ works
- July 15, London: Opening recital of the South Bank Messiaen Festival at Westminster Abbey,
performing
Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité
- July 18, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany: Various organ works
- July 25, Helligaandskirken, Copenhagen, Denmark: Various organ works
- July 31, Viborg Cathedral, Viborg, Denmark: Various organ works
- August 2, Rønne, Bornholm, Denmark: various Bach and Messiaen works interleaved
- August 8, Worcester Cathedral: Three Choir Festival - L'Ascension
- September 8, Paderborn Cathedral, Paderborn, Germany: Messiaen recital
- September 12, Stadt-und-Marktkirche St Lamberti, Münster, Westfalen-Lippe: various Messiaen works
- November 4, Durham Cathedral: Complete performance of Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité
- November 23, Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA: Messiaen recital
- December 10, Royal Holloway College, Egham, Surrey, England: Messiaen recital
- May 23 2009, Gewandhaus, Leipzig, Germany: Livre du Saint Sacrement
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Online Music Winner!
April 2007
The winner of the contest regarding the work Six variationen über una tema di Vincent Youmans
on the new Birmingham Symphony Hall CD is Mr. David Young of Frisco, Texas.
Mr. Young,
shown here with Gillian Weir having his celebratory tea,
is himself a former organist, an avid organ music enthusiast and has been a fan of
Gillian Weir for over 35 years.
You can still try to figure out the variations on the contest web page; it will tell you when you
are correct.
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Previous news articles have been moved to the news archive page.
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British concert organist Dame Gillian Weir
is
one of the foremost musicians in the world today.
Combining
natural talent, study and hard work along with
copious amounts of grace, charm, and wit,
she has defined an entirely new role as
an ambassador for the King of Instruments and its music.
Through her
performances with leading orchestras and conductors,
non-stop recital tours,
public television programmes, interviews, recordings and master classes,
Dame Gillian has transformed the image of organist from esoteric musician to beloved celebrity.
Performer, scholar and teacher, she has opened the eyes of the world to the
music of the organ with her extensive travels and tours throughout Europe, North America, Australasia, and Japan.
Go to bio...
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