Richard Gowers, organist at St George’s Hanover Square, Mayfair, London (courtesy of John Braum)
Mark your calendars for three exciting evenings of great organs, organists and organ music. The Greater Kansas City chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present “3 Days, 3 Organs, 3 Concerts”Oct. 26-28.
Mozart called the pipe organ the “King of Instruments” in his letters, and he did so for a reason. The extensive variety of musical colors, the dynamic contrasts, and sheer size of the instrument can be breathtaking. Three top-tier local instruments will be featured, alongside two internationally famous organists.
At 7 p.m. Oct. 26, British organist Richard Gowers will perform on the 3-manual Richard Fowkes and Co. organ at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village. While he is still in his early 30s, Gowers has a very impressive resume. He was an organ scholar at King’s College of Cambridge University (with the great Stephen Cleobury, no less!) and the Royal Academy of Music — where he also teaches. He serves as an active practitioner on the London concert scene and recently had solo debuts with the Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestras. In addition, he has performed with the Academy of Ancient Music and the London Symphony Orchestra. Gowers is director of music at St. George’s Church in Hanover Square in London, which happens to be the English church of George Frideric Handel when he was in residence there.
At 7 p.m. Oct. 27, the second program will take place at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Leawood. The performance will serve as the inaugural concert for their newly installed organ and will feature Olivier Latry. Born and raised in France, Latry was named as titular organist of Notre Dame of Paris at the age of 23. Like Gowers, he is a frequent soloist with orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and many others. He has several recordings for prestigious labels, including Deutsche Grammophon, for which he performed the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen and a disc of organ music by César Franck. The concert is sponsored by St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.
The final concert will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Kansas City. Once again, Richard Gowers will be the featured performer. While the programs of each of the performances have yet to be announced, the two concerts of Gowers will feature different works. The two Gowers concerts are underwritten by Wayne Alexander and John W. Braum.
All performances are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.kcago.com/333.
