Liszt / Reubke / Mendelssohn: Organ Works

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LISZT / REUBKE / MENDELSSOHN
Liszt / Reubke / Mendelssohn: Organ Works
Stephen Cleobury (organ)

[ King's College SACD / Hybrid SACD ]

Release Date: Monday 1 June 2015

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This album brings together the first ever surround sound recordings of the great Harrison & Harrison organ set within the chapel of King's College, Cambridge. Performing three popular virtuosic works for the organ, Stephen Cleobury, Director of Music at King's College, demonstrates the power and flexibility of this great instrument. Originally built in the 19th century to replace an earlier instrument, the organ has been modernised several times and is due for a major renovation in 2016.

Beginning with Liszt's dark-hued 'Fantasie und Fuge über den choral Ad nos, ad salutarem undam', this piece is based on a theme from Meyerbeer's grand opera 'Le Prophète'. Julius Reubke's magnificently gothic 'Organ Sonata' on the 94th Psalm explores the theme of judgement. Considered one of the pinnacles of Romantic repertoire, and thought to have been inspired by Liszt's 'Fantasie und Fuge über den choral', this piece is a test of both the organ's versatility and the player's pedal technique. The album concludes with Mendelssohn's Organ Sonata No. 6 in D minor. Based on Bach's chorale 'Vater unser im Himmelreich', this piece demonstrates Mendelssohn's consummate mastery of organ textures.

"Cleobury thrillingly exploits the dynamics of the magnificent instrument at King's College, Cambridge. Exemplary liner notes, too." (Sunday Times)

"Cleobury is on peak form. Clearly he has had the music in his fingers and feet for many years: one is left with the sense that all problems were solved long ago…and of course, the King's College organ is 'his' instrument. He exploits its full resources with taste, discernment and piquancy." Gramophone

"Stephen Cleobury, Director of Music at Kings College is the organist on this disc, and he gives us a rousing and inspiring performance. His pedal mastery is excellent on the difficult Reubke sonata… A highly listenable disc." AudAud.com

Tracks:

Liszt:
Fantasia and Fugue on 'Ad nos, ad salutarem undam', S259

Mendelssohn:
Organ Sonata No. 6 in D minor, Op. 65 No. 6

Reubke:
Organ Sonata on the 94th Psalm