Royal Albert Hall

[vaughnorganist]

I love it when an organ is louder than an orchestra... the organ basically tells the orchestra to shut the fuck up. :)

[ThePhantomneko]

It Sounds exactly the same as when they played The Phantom of the Opera Overture on Webbers Fiftieth birthday! I remember playing on it too!

[davbear221]

This is the stupidist performance of this ORGAN SYMPHONY FINALE that i've ever heard. I laughed my ass off! SO STUPID!

[ThePhantomneko]

@davbear221 I would love to see you do better! That organ has been restored at least 5 times this century. Don't judge it too harshly!

[mightybassman1]

Widor was 90+ when he recorded it. That doesn't say anything about how slow or fast YOU have to play it. IMHO, it tends to fall apart if you play it too slowly. This is the slowest tempo that works; slower and you kill both the piece and the listeners.

[HabTasianet]

Goosebumps from 5:23 onwards!

[jorgecarrillo2]

A Pipe Organ, the best use that Wood and Metal can ever finda.

[silverstartrucker]

Dreadful weak sound.

[deojays]

heard this many times played by arnold greer? GREAT post. brought back happy happy memories....and the royal albert hall shaking!

[BritanniaRules]

Tremendous fun! Thanks for posting this. The drum beats and rolls in particular complement the organ very well and make this piece even more exhilarating than it usually is. Please ignore the snide comments from other members.

[mmq88x]

As slow as it may sound, it is actually the correct way of playing it. A recording by Widor himself is played even slower!

[mlevitt]

@mmq88x : He never mentioned anything about tempo. Just the registration. It probably come across like it doesn't because of how it was recorded. Just a guess. :)

[davlber221]

@mmq88x Thank you so much! I get tired of the "over caffenated" performances of this work!

[paranormaalutrecht]

to slow. to slow..... bad playing!!!!!!!!!!!

[deojays]

your opinion, like your grammar, sucks!

[OrigionalBritti]

actually I've heard this played at the Royal Albert Hall and this is how its performed, it was perfectly timed and beautifully orchestrated.

[watercressline]

I have over 20 versions of this piece played in different places around the country. The Royal Albert Hall Organ can do far better than this as can John Birch. Widor would not have been impressed with this. If you want to hear this piece played properly, listen to Olivier Latry playing it in Notre Dame, that is how this piece should be played.

[TheVOC]

Sort of disappointed that the organist didn't vary his sound with the boxes, especially where it supposed to be quiet, I mean it is all one shouting volume level. Widor would have at least given it some more expressions, especially when the organ is soloing and the orchestra is not playing, I did love the end when the organ and the orchestra came in together, the timpani really are quite spectacular! GOOD ENDING, poor middle section, the organ looks capable of doing more than the organist did.

[TrompenCham167]

The registration is pitiful. Where's all of the french firepower that this organ is more than capable of producing?! No mixtures or reeds. Dissappointing.

[animesis]

well, regardless of your opinions, it may not have been the best rendition or the best played, but i Damn well enjoyed listening to it!

[FellrunnerJim]

Hear Hear, that's what we thought!

[FellrunnerJim]

Tut Tut my RAH video is one of 4,580 so I will not be alone when I get arrested! Actually, we were overwhelmed by the whole place as it was our first visit to the RAH and we really enjoyed the concert. I dare say, by the standards of some commentators on here, my aftershave may be of poorer quality than they are used to and my tie may be made of crimpline, but we do know how to enjoy a weekend away from Sheffield. And, gentlemen, we know how to spell appalling,attempts,Concerto and favourite!

[ds1868]

Well FellrunnerJim I think any weekend away from Sheffield would be an improvement! And yes of course you are quite correct, the performance really was APPALLING.

[ds1868]

This really is an appauling rendition by John Birch. Absolutely dreadful. How did he get away with this?? Both Widor and Willis will most definitely be turning in their graves at this!!

[lee1984yate]

I think it may well be safe to say that this is one of the very worst attemps at this toccata I have ever heard. I would be utterly ashamed if I played the organ that badly - especially at the RAH! Henry Willis would turn in his grave to hear his beast being played like this (although it's now really a Mander organ after the rebuild!)

[kingrolo27]

Tut tut at you recording at the RAH.

When the hall was built the organ was built by composer Camille Saint-Saens.

I sat next to the 32 foot pipe in the choir when they played his Organ Conceto. Was a tad loud.

[lee1984yate]

The organ was built in 1871 by Henry Willis actually. It had 111 stops distributed over 4 manuals and pedals. It was then the largest organ in the world. It is now the second largest in the UK - Liverpool Anglican Cathedral being the largest. :-)

[TrompenCham167]

I think however, that this instrument is now very much a Harrison because of the vast majority of the pipes being by Harrison, the console being by them etc. It also has that typical Harrison sound also. Beleive me, I should know because I've played it.

[ds1868]

It's a completely new console actually, built by Manders in the recent rebuild (although the keys were retained). They did retain the Harrison's console 'style' though. Since you've played it, I would have thought you'd know that!

[advisorC101]

I agree, I've played on a Harrison rebuild.

[iam4hymn2]

This is NOT my favorite rendition of this magnificent piece. Disappointing.

[ds1868]

Strange rendition this, organ and orchestra. And not particularly well played by the organist either, I'm afraid - far too stodgy and with little to excite.

[organist12345]

Did you go to the Davido Briggs concert. It was really good. He played this excelently