Although the liner notes don’t say it, Olivier Latry is titular organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris; he has won prestigious awards and certainly ranks among the world’s finest church/concert/virtuoso organists. Among his credits are a recent traversal of Messiaen’s organ works for Deutsche Grammophon (type Q5907 in Search Reviews), and this newest offering is, well, something a little bit different. Suffice it to say, if this really is what goes on at “Midnight at Notre-Dame”, then we know why many of those famous gargoyles are smiling–and we’d like to be part of the celebration too. From Marcel Dupré’s opening transcription of Bach’s “Sinfonia” from Cantata BWV 29, we’re launched into that unique part of the universe that’s dominated by forces only organists and certain very special instruments can create and to which we can be transported only under very special circumstances.
This recital is, as they used to say in the ’60s, a “trip”, but one that’s guided by the highest artistic standard, and where showmanship is superceded by the utmost care for each work’s essential musical values. The result: a breathtaking exposition and a reminder of just how electrifying an organ concert on CD can be. The (predominantly) Cavaillé-Coll organ at Notre-Dame is a huge, bright, reedy instrument capable of a virtual carnival of voices, and Latry is a consummate master of colorful, evocative registration that not only illuminates a given piece, but makes it forever memorable. Wait till you hear Liszt’s orchestra-sized conception of Wagner’s Tannhäuser “Pilgrims’ Chorus”, or Vierne’s larger-than-life Prélude Op. 3 No. 2 by Rachmaninov–talk about fully exploiting your sound system!
And if that’s not enough, try Latry’s phenomenal rendition of Jean Guillou’s transcription of Prokofiev’s Toccata Op. 11: how does a human play such a thing on the organ? It’s just not possible! And for good measure, Latry dispatches Berlioz’s Hungarian march from La Damnation de Faust with dazzling style–and effortless technique. And the sound–from brilliant, refulgent upper reeds, trumpets, and winds to the great, resounding lower registers–is ideal, placing us in the very middle of that incomparably huge, timeless Gothic-cathedral space. And you don’t even have to turn this one up to get room-filling effect. Organ fans will already have this–and if you’re not one already, try it and believe. Outstanding! [9/14/2004]
