Thursday 22nd July 2010
Matthew Atherton: Director of Music - Barnard Castle Preparatory School, County Durham
The Programme
- Allegro, from Symphonie VI. Charles Marie Widor (1844-1937)
- Andante, from Sonata IV, BWV 528. JS Bach (1685-1750)
- Tu es Petra, from Esquisses Byzantines. Henri Mulet (1887-1967)
- Toccata in Seven. John Rutter (b.1945)
- Fantasia in G, BWV 572. JS Bach (1685-1750)
- Prelude on the Londonderry Air. Noel Rawsthorne (b.1929)
- Finlandia. Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), arr. Matthew Atherton
Price: Free, retiring collection
Attendance: Good, around 50
Star Rating: 4/5 ****
This was a thoroughly enjoyable organ recital. As it happened, I took a friend along with me, who hadn't really ever heard live organ music before, and she turned out to thoroughly enjoy it. A good result straight away. The main reason for this, alongside the thrilling tonalities of this instrument, might be down to how Matthew employed so many well known musical themes in his programme, such as those found in the Londonderry Air and his own inspiring arangement of Finlandia. There was something for everyone to 'hum along to' should they wish, as well as some of the more popular organ repertoire. The Widor Allegro to open the recital was a particularly rousing start, and the Bach Fantasia was also particularly enjoyable. Matthew played all these pieces with great accuracy and it has to be noted that he had clearly payed much attention to his registrations and sorting out what worked best on this organ. I must also pay homage though to Matthew's page turner/pupil, George Warren. George played the Rutter Toccata, and for a boy who turned out to be 13, this was a better performance than I have heard on occasion from experienced and distinguished organists. It was quite inspiring, to say the least, and the raw talent was clear. Look out for this name in the future!
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