I agree, lovely organ. Impressive. Blah, blah, blah. But more impressive is this performance. Spot on tempi, immaculate articulation, very orchestral registration. Francois Henri-Houbart understands the arc of the piece which many orchestral conductors do not. I was thrilled and delighted. So there.
Remarkably good!!! Really good in fact!! Now, how about that somebody prove matters further by playing the same composer's G-major Sonata (Op.28), likely to be harder given this organ lacking divisional pistons!??
Nevertheless, it was truly well done (when remembering Sir John Barbirolli's recording of this piece...).
A few places where the dynamic contrasts jar excessively, but - on two hearings, I'm definitely impressed (now yours truly has got to check with a genuine British instrument to see how they'll really compare...).
In fact, you are possibly true, as this organ, which Dupré loved (with reason !) although it's wonderful reeds (one of the craziest Contrebombarde 32' !) and French styled ''light'' foundations has in fact 61-32 note compass, plus all super octaves, that you don't find on a Cavaillé-Coll; we are in 1935 here after all ! That is why many French ultra or post-symphonists like it much, as there are not many of them in France.
Last year he has given an organ-concert in the church I belong to. It's in Germany. Circa one hour before the concert he ask me to help him during the concert so I stood the hole time next to him.
A very "clinical" performance of this particular piece on this type of instrument - in my humble opinion! Lacking passion although technically impressive.
I didn't know Verdun even had a cathedral ;-). This is probably the least French-sounding French organ I've ever heard. In my humble opinion, it sounds more English than French -- but maybe that's because he's playing Elgar.
Brillant. Love the phrasing and sense of "direction" in this interpretation, combined with good control of sonorities.
hoefje14 4 months ago
Look for a cd called Le Grand Orgue Heroique that's in print
Jscola30 8 months ago
I agree, lovely organ. Impressive. Blah, blah, blah. But more impressive is this performance. Spot on tempi, immaculate articulation, very orchestral registration. Francois Henri-Houbart understands the arc of the piece which many orchestral conductors do not. I was thrilled and delighted. So there.
jamesbkozak 1 year ago
Then I should look for recordings done on Jacquots.
stormkingfan 1 year ago
@stormkingfan Trouble is there aren't that many! There is another large Jacquot however in Rouen Cathedral, that too is very impressive!
JFSnail 1 year ago
Those are the most impressive pedal reeds I've heard on a Gonzalez, especially at 32', or were those Bombardes built by someone else?
stormkingfan 1 year ago
@stormkingfan As mentioned in the notes above, the organ was built by Theodore Jacquot in 1935. Gonzalez merely restored the organ in 1986.
JFSnail 1 year ago
Remarkably good!!! Really good in fact!! Now, how about that somebody prove matters further by playing the same composer's G-major Sonata (Op.28), likely to be harder given this organ lacking divisional pistons!??
Nevertheless, it was truly well done (when remembering Sir John Barbirolli's recording of this piece...).
LJBSasha 2 years ago
A few places where the dynamic contrasts jar excessively, but - on two hearings, I'm definitely impressed (now yours truly has got to check with a genuine British instrument to see how they'll really compare...).
LJBSasha 2 years ago
With other places, one could use MORE contrast (especially with Swell-boxing).
All in all, 4 stars...
LJBSasha 2 years ago
In fact, you are possibly true, as this organ, which Dupré loved (with reason !) although it's wonderful reeds (one of the craziest Contrebombarde 32' !) and French styled ''light'' foundations has in fact 61-32 note compass, plus all super octaves, that you don't find on a Cavaillé-Coll; we are in 1935 here after all ! That is why many French ultra or post-symphonists like it much, as there are not many of them in France.
jmeister321684 2 years ago
It sounds like a Frenchmen playing English music! He performs it like a French toccata!
ThirtyTwoFoot 2 years ago
Last year he has given an organ-concert in the church I belong to. It's in Germany. Circa one hour before the concert he ask me to help him during the concert so I stood the hole time next to him.
:-)
Orgeljunge 2 years ago
Speaking as an Englishman living in France, I find that F-HH has found some very convincing "orchestral" effects in his registration.
As to the interpretation, even English orchestras don't play the P&C marches as slowly today as in the early 20th Century.
1401JSC 2 years ago
A very "clinical" performance of this particular piece on this type of instrument - in my humble opinion! Lacking passion although technically impressive.
pipeup1 3 years ago
A Frenchman playing Elgar appeals to my sense of humour? Interesting though and a nice organ.
mattbod 2 years ago
Apparently built in 1935 and opened by Dupre.
MEPPO06 3 years ago
Yes but incorporating 1897 stops, it has quite a history !
jmeister321684 2 years ago
I didn't know Verdun even had a cathedral ;-). This is probably the least French-sounding French organ I've ever heard. In my humble opinion, it sounds more English than French -- but maybe that's because he's playing Elgar.
a55b47 3 years ago