Carlo Curley plays Wagner in Girard College Chapel

Carlo Curley playing his transcription of the Liebestod from Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde, on the magnificent Aeolian-Skinner organ in the chapel of Girard College, Philadelphia. This track was taken from CD from the Argo label entitled 'The Emperor's fanfare' 430 200-2 released in 1990. Certainly my favourite interpretation of this work.

The Aeoilan-Skinner organ was built in 1932 at the cost of $1.5 million all this during the Great Depression! It sits in a unique chamber above the ceiling of the chapel (A huge Greco-Egyptian edifice, triangular in plan) some 100ft above the floor, and speaks through a large central grille. The divisions of the organ are arranged around the edges of the chamber, the famous Tuba Mirabilis now sitting horizontally above the grille. The effect this instrument produces is remarkable. The organ has undergone a few changes over the years, the great mixtures were altered, the big tuba at one point fired downwards at the audience! The 32' reed was also revoiced to a terrifying 35 inches, but now thankfully redcued to 30 and still gives the most powerful roar. And the solo tubas were brightened too. But apart from the thunderous pedal department and big solo reed, its those delicate flutes, strings and reeds that stand out, all beautifully voiced to fit that space like a glove. George Thalben-Ball once commented, 'One of the 5 greatest organs in the world; one of the very few that can bring tears to not only to the eyes but also the soul'.

Liebestod, literally tanslated means love-death. This is the final aria of Wagner's opera, Tristan, the knight, has fallen in love with Isolde who is set to marry an eldery king, but they are discovered by a loyal knight of said king and Tristan is mortally wounded. The aria is a sweet love song she sings as lays dying in her arms, and then she dies too. The opera is in three acts, with the libretto by the composer and was first performed in June 1865. The story of Tristan and Isolde is a classic love story, its roots can be traced back to 12th century, but Wagner's opera is largely based on Gottfried von Strassurg's version, with some of Schopenhauer's philosphy thrown in. Out of this heady mix, Wagner created his opera, aiming to create "...the simplest, most full-blooded conception imaginable, and with the black flag that waves in the end I shall cover myself - to die."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carlo
• Curley
• Pipe
• Organ
• Organo
• Orgue
• Orgel
• Aoelian
• Skinner
• Girard
• College
• Chapel
• Wagner
• Tristan
• Isolde

[bull912000]

Wow. It seems like having all those ranks really lets gives you a lot of opportunities with that crescendo... not necessarily in terms of volume. I've never heard a pipe organ that takes advantage of dynamic changes as smooth as this one does.

[kingcw]

@kingcw This is not spam.Why it flagged as such I do not know.

[kingcw]

Wonderful music beautifully played. A delight to my ears. In the 1930's, my late father, a blind man , played this for his inaugural rendition at the church where he became organist for 30 years. One of my own favourite pieces of music.

[silverstartrucker]

This is one of the best tracks on the C/D that I also have. I did not like Virgil Fox's version on the Wanamaker but Mr Curley excels here.

[gerardbedecarter]

A wonderful transcription and performance !!!!!!

[bombarde1701a]

This is a great CD. It was fun crawling around in the chambers way up in the ceiling.

[SuperElBorba]

This, in my opinion, is the most faithful transcription of this piece for organ!

[djbjr1130]

Great track, I have that cd....I also TOOK THOSE PICTURES