Hi-Rez Highway

Posted by Botanico92007 (A) on July 05, 2007 at 10:02:13

In Reply to: RE: Comments-Saint Saens Symphony No. 3 (Organ)-Orchestre Metropolitain du Grand Montreal (long) posted by Robert C. Lang on July 02, 2007 at 23:25:05

I heard the inaugural concert of the new organ at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA in 1982. Virgil Fox helped with the design of the organ, but he died before its completion. For the premiere the church brought in Pierre Cochereau from Paris to play the organ in the Saint-Saens Third with his son conducting. The organ is huge with 5(!) 32-foot stops and 13,000+ pipes, probably more by now.

When the full organ opened the final movement, the sound was so incredibly loud that I thought the glass panes of the cathedral were going to shake loose and rain down on our heads. The orchestra was completely drowned out. The church gave a series of organ concerts with big names from the US and Europe for a few years, until tax problems with the IRS stopped the concerts. I never heard another performance that equaled that first experience. During intermission a demonstration of the organ was given. The lowest note of a 32-foot stop (16Hz) was played solo. The sound could be felt more than heard. I could feel the vibrations coming up through the seat bottom and the armrests. I started to get slightly nauseous, like a prelude to an earthquake.

The second part of the program was Ted Alan Worth playing the organ part of Joseph Jongen's Symphonie Concertante. I must admit it was a more satisfactory performance, as the organ and orchestra were always properly balanced, yet the organ still powerfully supported the music. Is there a SACD performance of the Jongen work? There is an old performance by Virgil Fox on a Capitol LP.

As to recorded performances of the Saint-Saens, I am partial to the Munch on SACD. The recording has held up remarkably well over the years. I also like the Marcel Dupre with Paul Paray on Mercury with its natural balance. I was disappointed with the early Telarc and also with the Nezet-Seguin, as well as Christian Schmitt with Johannes Wildner on a Audite SACD. I haven't heard the many other versions.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic recently did the Saint-Saens Third in the new Disney Hall with the new organ. I tried to get tickets, but the seats were sold out. Maybe there will be a recording.