Product Overview
Peter Hurford - The Organ at Sydney Opera House (CD ALBUM (1 DISC)) While playing organs worldwide, and concentrating his work in his native England, Peter Hurfordnonetheless gave recitals on organs across Australia throughout his long career. However, he hardly played an instrument more dazzling in its impact and variety than the organ whichwas installed at the Sydney Opera House. Completed in May 1979 at a cost of $1.2 million, the organ has come to be regarded as one of the finest such instruments in the southern hemisphere. Among the world's largest mechanical-action organs, it was built by an Australian, Ronald Sharpe and, during the final phase of construction, the Austrian organ-building firm of Gregor Hradetzky. Both the instrument and Hurford'srhythmically animated playing are justly immortalised by this album of popular organ classics. It begins with the toccata and fugue which was almost certainly not written for organ and probably not composed by Bach, but is destined to be associated with both in the public imagination. Likewise the Adagio that is no more or less than Giazotto'sreworking and Romantic elaboration of a slender theme 'by' Albinoni. Whoever it was by, every piece on this compendious introduction to organ literature is richly enjoyable, and Hurfordduly enjoys all the colours of the Sydney organ by, almost literally, pulling out all the stops during the course of the album. In the hands of Hurford, Herbert Murrill'sCarillonis a dazzling feat of prestidigitation, and the Sydney trumpets will test out the most exacting audio equipment here and in the album's inevitable conclusion, the Toccata from Widor'sFifth Symphony. 'This is the sort of programme with which organs are baptized There is a springiness in the playing which comes up fresh everytime All very good value.' Gramophone, June 1983 'Here's a bit of fun. Imagine the astonishment of Purcell and Bach, leading from the bar of heaven to listen to the Trumpet Tune and Jesu, joyon an organ beyond their wildest imaginings. Hurfordplays as scrupulously for a popular audience as for the stuffiest international jury.' Musical Times, December 1983 Tracklistings: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685 1750) 1 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 2 Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring(arr. Hurford) TOMASO ALBINONI (1671 1751) Arranged by REMO GIAZOTTO (1910 1998) 3 Adagio in G minor JEREMIAH CLARKE (c.1673 1707) 4 Trumpet Tune in D major (arr. Hurford) CðSAR FRANCK (1822 1890) 6 Chorale No. 2 in B minor HERBERT MURRILL (1909 1952) 7 Carillon HENRY WALFORD DAVIES (1869 1941) 8 Solemn Melody CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844-1937) 9 Toccata(from Symphony No. 5)
