Sydney Opera House Concert Hall was filled to the back of the choir seats last night for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance of Saint-Saëns’ famous Organ Symphony. We so rarely get to hear the Concert Hall organ played with an orchestra – or at all, really – so the opportunity was a real treat.
Featured way up in the organist’s balcony, the orchestra had invited world renowned Olivier Latry to join them for the concert series. One of three titular organists of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for the past 30 years, he is also Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory and Organist Emeritus with the Montreal Symphony in Canada.
At the pre-concert talk, hosted by ABC Classic presenter Genevieve Lang, Latry was interviewed about the composers in the all-French program and about his own work. A lithe, tall and slim figure with an affable smile; Latry presented a relaxed and optimistic composure having no reservations in about speaking on the mike in front of the audience. This is a true rarity for organ players who usually prefer to turn their backs on the observer so, it’s no surprise he is one of the world’s ambassadors for the instrument.
Latry spoke frankly about the fear of returning to Notre-Dame after the 2019 fire and was relieved to find it unharmed. We laughed about his telling of the jaunty background of composer Francis Poulenc whose friends called him “moitié moine, moitié voyou” meaning “half monk, half guttersnipe”.
To explain a little further, Poulenc grew up in a household with his father’s side of the family being deeply, seriously religious in contrast to his mother’s side of the family who were highly artistic. Apparently she liked playing on the piano “less elevated” music which, in the early 1900’s might have included songs of the music hall or cafe night life. Such a diverse exposure seems to have given Poulenc a good sense of humour along with the skills to produce unique music. In his Concerto in G minor for Organ, Strings and Timpani (1938), the ambience ranged from being grounded and gripping through to staggering about waving a champagne bottle.
The program opened with a contemporary piece (2012) by French composer Guillaume Connesson titled “Flammenschrift” or “written in flames” as a tribute to Beethoven. In a rather cliché viewpoint, the piece was filled with anger, frustration and portrayed disappointment. From the get-go, the picture seemed to audibly show someone getting up in the morning and already in an argumentative mood. The majority of the work instilled anxiety and discomfort, some parts like trying to walk over broken glass. The respite was more like ballet music underwater, small snippets sounding familiar that were immediately wiped away by the next watery wave. The crescendo leading the finale built well, carrying a Star Wars cinematic feel, then finished abruptly. Flammenschrift has been championed by the evening’s Guest Conductor, Stéphane Denève, who held the score to his bosom during the applause.
Poulenc’s Concerto, mentioned already, featured Latry at the organ. Unfortunately the concert hall’s hanging rose petals used to improve the audio, plus the lighting racks hanging from the roof, meant a large portion of the audience could not see Latry working. At the close of the piece, the petals and lighting was raised higher so everyone could see him and show their appreciation. Latry pointed out Poulenc’s piece is a wonderful team effort. The composer did much research with his contemporaries, as well as looking back to past composers, looking for ways to maximise the effect of the organ. The composition bounced between solo work for the organ, then strings and timpani filling in the gaps where the melody might not be possible to play on an organ. How often do you hear an organ solo with percussion emphasis as an accompaniment? Very unique and very satisfying.
The audience gave enthusiastic applause with the conductor egging us on for just one more curtain call for Latry, encouraging him to play a solo encore. Latry chose the perfect piece of Bach to satisfy the punters.
Poulenc’s work differs from the great Organ Symphony by Saint-Saëns, performed in the second half of the concert. Here, the organ is more an instrument in the orchestra with less solo work to do. The Symphony is so well known and, although we’ve heard it many times on radio or on album, there is nothing quite like listening to it live. You see the musicians working together or syncopated, with different themes flowing from different sections on the stage, plus the magnificent deep organ tones that rumble your seat and add a rich, solid foundation no other instrument can equal.
In this work there are melodies you will recognise, including the pop song “If I had words” by Fitzgerald and Keeley from the 1970s which was featured in the Australian piggy movie “Babe”. The closing of the Symphony is truly spectacular, a “musi-gasm” if ever there was one (i.e. musical orgasm) and the audience members in the choir seats behind the cymbal player were all grinning broadly. It’s the kind of piece that would make any kid in the audience immediately want to sign up for cymbal lessons to join the orchestra.
The crowd loved the performance. Special mention must go to conductor Stéphane Denève whose massive, loving, musicality shone through, bringing out the very best from our orchestra.
It’s such a thrilling work.
As the crowd disbursed, leaving the theatre and walking along the pier from the Opera House, there was laughing, giggling, lively conversation and several impersonations of the cymbal player’s movements. When you can make a crowd feel this good, you know you’ve achieved your higher purpose as a composer or musician.
Check out the additional dates for this concert below. Grab a ticket if you can.
Five stars.
More 2024 Sydney Opera House performances of this program
Thursday 11 July 1.30pm, Friday 12 July 8pm and Saturday 13 July 8pm
Program
GUILLAUME CONNESSON – Flammenschrift
FRANCIS POULENC – Concerto in G minor for organ, strings and timpani
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS – Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 “Organ Symphony”
Related Links
What’s next from Sydney Symphony? https://www.sydneysymphony.com/#calendar
Where can I hear more organ concerts in Sydney? https://www.sydneyorgan.com/Events.html
Music albums featuring organist Olivier Latry https://www.discogs.com/artist/894567-Olivier-Latry
