Liszt: Orpheus for organ

It was inevitable that Jean Guillou’s fascination for Liszt would be exercised through the virtuoso’s panache and his transcriptions for orchestral masterpieces are a delight to behold for fans of the organ . None of the works brought together on this disc escape Jean Guillou’s ‘signature’. Recently restored to its full glory in 2007, the organ of Naples Conservatory brings these sublime transcriptions to life in a way that Liszt would have surely admired.

Jane Parker-Smith releases her third volume of romantic and virtuoso works for organ. Here we see original pieces by Saint-Saëns, Wiedermann, Landmann, Bairstow Hubert H. Parry, Gárdonyi and two arrangements: Lizst’s magnificent Symphonic Poem Orpheus, in a transcription by Jean Guillou and the Scherzo Symphonique by Pierre Cochereau, transription by Jeremy Filsell.

Jane Parker-Smith is one of the world’s leading concert organists, acclaimed by the critics and public alike for her musicianship, virtuosity and interpretative ability. She has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships, including a French government scholarship which enabled her to complete her studies in Paris with the legendary blind organist Jean Langlais and to perfect her knowledge and understanding of twentieth-century organ music for which she is now internationally renowned.

The Organ of the Catholic Parish Church of St. Gudula in Rhede

The instrument, built in 1998 by Romanus Seifert & Sohn of Kevelaer Germany, has 52 stops, divided into 3 manuals and a pedal. The organ is equipped with a slider soundboard with a tracker action and electric stop control.

Located behind the organ case are the Great organ, the Positif (expressive) and the Pedal organ. Behind this lies the Swell. The large wooden pipes of the Subbass 32’ are positioned at the back of the organ and these can be viewed from the entrance hall to the tower.

14 stops were taken from its predecessor (Horstenke, Telgte 1874 and Breil, Dorsten 1902/1937) as well as from the stock of historic stops kept by the Seifert workshop. Thus an artistically ‘universal’ organ came into being, with stylistic references to the German and French late Romantic period.

This 3 CD set contains all of Liszt’s major original organ works, together with a selection of virtuoso transcriptions of Liszt’s orchestral and piano works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Max Reger, Edwin Lemare, Nicolas Kynaston, and Peter King.

Played on the magnificent Klais organ of Bath Abbey.

3 CD set at special price.

An essential collection for Liszt year!