Jane Parker-Smith, organ
Royal Festival Hall, 3 October 2016
The 2016/17 season of this international organ series started with a bang in this recital by the renowned concert organist who is based in London. The programme notes included a quote from Gramophone magazine which describes her approach as “musically assertive organ-playing” and her championing of “big, gutsy, colourful” repertoire. There is no doubting that Jane Parker-Smith is a fine organist with a tremendous command of the instrument but my problem with this evening was the amount of music which was overly loud, percussive and fast.
Beginning with Marcel Lanquetuit’s Toccata in D the first sounds from the organ were insistent and “in your face”! Guillou’s transcription of Lizst’s Orpheus followed, with some good orchestral registration but at times it felt like some of the accompaniment was running away with itself. Andreas Willscher’s Toccata alla Rumba brought some rhythmic contrast but was in many ways a return to the sound world of the opening piece. The most substantial work in the first half was Healey Willan’s Introduction, Passacaglia & Fugue in Eb minor. This was the nearest we came to baroque / classical structures and was well played with some lovely registration and overall a more measured approach. The beginning of the Passacaglia was beautifully constructed with well defined lines.
The second half consisted of just one work, Vierne’s Symphonie No 2 in E minor. This was a well-executed performance with a lot more contrast in registration and some sublime passages in the Chorale as well as the delightfully playful Scherzo as well as some more evidence of the might of this organ and organist.
An interesting evening which I am sure appealed to many in the audience. I enjoy organ music of varying styles and was impressed by much of the programme as individual items. For an entertaining evening and a showcase for this remarkable instrument I personally would have appreciated a more balanced diet.
The next concert in the series, an all Bach-programme, is given by Robert Quinney on 3rd February.
Stephen Page