1891; 1991 Casavant Frères organ at Basilique de Notre-Dame, Montréal, Québec, Canada

1914 Casavant Frères organ at Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Montréal, Québec, Canada

1961 Beckerath organ at Église Immaculee Conception, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Champions in Canada

…highlight performances from Montréal by winners of the 2008 Concours International d’Orgue du Canada, with commentary from CIOC artistic director John Grew.

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of November 09, 2009

Featured Organ:

• (1891; 1991 Casavant/Notre Dame Basilica, Montréal, Québec, Canada)
• (1915 Casavant/Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Montréal, Québec, Canada)
• (1961 Beckerath/Immaculate Conception Church, Montréal, Québec, Canada)

Interview Audio:

• In conversation with Michael Barone, CIOC Artistic Director John Grew…
• … describes the two historic Casavant organs used in the final two rounds (and the winner’s concert) of the 2008 competition.
• … provides a Canadian's reflection on the 21st century organ scene.

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

Hour 1

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR: Allegro (1 st movement), from Symphony No. 6 in g, Op. 42, no. 2 –Frédéric Champion, winner 1st Prize and Audience Prize (Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste)

LOUIS VIERNE: Final, from Organ Symphony No. 3 in f#, Op. 28. GASTON LITAIZE: Lied, from Douze Pieces –Jens Korndörfer, winner 3rd Prize (Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste)

MAX REGER: Chorale-fantasy, Hallelujah, Gott zu loben, Op. 52, no. 3 –Andrew Dewar, winner 2nd Prize and Messiaen Prize

MARCEL DUPRÉ: Allegro deciso, from Evocation, Op. 37 –Frédéric Champion (Basilique Notre Dame)

Performances for the first hour were recorded on historic organs in Montréal at the Basilique Notre-Dame with its 1891; 1991 Casavant and at the Church of Saint John the Baptist with its 1914; 1996 Casavant.

Filler - VIERNE (see above)

Hour 2

NICOLAS de GRIGNY: Ave maris stella (2 versets) –Jens Korndörfer, winner 3rd Prize (Basilique Notre Dame)

FRANZ TUNDER: Chorale-fantasy, Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott. J. S. BACH: Trio, Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 664. BACH: Prelude & Fugue in G, BWV 550 –Els Biesemans, winner Bach Prize (1961 Beckerath/Immaculate Conception Church, Montreal)

OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Le mystere de la Sainte Trinité, from Les corps glorieux. SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: Resonet in laudibus, from Cathedral Windows, Op. 106 –Andrew Dewar, winner 2nd Prize and Messiaen Prize (Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste)

MAURICE DURUFLÉ: Toccata, from Suite for Organ, Op. 5 –Frédéric Champion, winner 1st Prize and Audience Prize (Basilique Notre-Dame)

Filler - BACH BWV 664 (see above)

 

In its inaugural season, the triennial Canadian International Organ Competition welcomed an international slate of 15 semi-finalists to Montreal for a week of music making. Under the artistic leadership of John Grew, the panel of judges…which included Marie-Claire Alain, Gilles Cantagrel, James David Christie, Hans-Ola Ericsson, James Higdon, Tong-Soon Kwak, Mireille Lagacé, Ludger Lohman and Dame Gillian Weir…awarded $72,000 in prizes. Thanks to the CBC, Radio Canada, and McGill University Audio Services for providing recordings. Watch for details of the next Canadian Concours, October 5-16, 2011!

 

Recordings by several of the competition prizewinners are available:

    Frédéric Champion - ATMA Classique 22604

    Andrew Dewar - Edition Hera 2118

    Els Biesemans - Etcetera 1299