INTERNATIONAL CONCERT ORGANIST GIVES PRESTIGIOUS ALCOCK RECITAL - Archived

Internationally-renowned concert organist Dr Carol Williams gives the prestigious Alcock Recital, as part of Salisbury Cathedral’s Organ Recital Series 2006, on Wednesday 24 May at 7.30pm.

Dr Williams, San Diego organist and Artistic Director of the Spreckels Organ Society, professes an overwhelming desire to ‘blow the cobwebs’ off organ music, extending the repertoire to include every known style and genre from medieval through classical, romantic, to pop and jazz. Her innovation, dexterity and commentary have the reputation of being ‘completely refreshing’.

Her programme at Salisbury Cathedral consists of a series of shorter pieces. There are arrangements of well-known orchestral favourites making this a particularly accessible and attractive programme. These include Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, the aria Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate, from Verdi’s Nabucco, and Beethoven’s ‘Egmont’ Overture. Intersperced between these arrangements Carol Williams plays Bach’s Fuga Sopra il Magnificat, BWV 733 and Lasceux’s Morceau de Flutes which features the softer sounds of Salisbury’s famous Father Willis organ.

The centrepiece of Dr Williams’ recital offers a rare opportunity to hear Jean Guillou’s spectacular version of Liszt’s Fantaisie et Fugue B.A.C.H. Liszt prepared different versions of this piece for piano and organ; Guillou’s arrangement transforms it into a display of virtuosity for the organist by incorporating many of the additional features which only appeared in Liszt’s piano version.

The recital moves into a more relaxed mode with arrangements of two pieces influenced by jazz, George Shearing’s Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound, and Jesse Greer’s Flapperette, and reaches a triumphant conclusion with a performance of Belgian composer Jongen’s fine Toccata , ending with Karl Jenkins Trumpeting Organ Morgan offered by way of an ‘encore’ piece.

Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Music, and co-ordinator of the Cathedral’s recital series, said “It is a great pleasure to welcome Carol Williams to Salisbury as the first visiting recitalist on our new console. Dr Williams reputation precedes her, and she has chosen an extremely varied programme which promises to put the organ through its paces. The recent work to the organ has vastly improved the control systems for our famous Father Willis and you can rest assured that this concert will be packed with spectacular changes of colour throughout.”

Tickets, price £8.00 (concessions for children), for Dr Carol Williams recital on Wednesday 24 May at 7.30pm are available at the door on the night.