Los Angeles Music Preview: BACH’S CLAVIER-ÜBUNG III (Paul Jacobs at Disney Hall)

AN ORGAN-IC CONCLUSION

Disney Hall’s 2013/2014 Organ Recital Series comes to a rousing conclusion on Sunday, May 4^th with Johann Sebastian Bach’s most complex and demanding organ composition Clavier-Ãœbung III (German Organ Mass). Taking command of the keys and putting the multitudinous pedals to the metal will be world renowned organist Paul Jacobs. Adding to the en-chant-ment, Mr. Jacobs will be joined by the Norbertine Canons of St. Michael’s Abbey, a monastic community of Roman Catholic priests and seminarians who give praise and solemn celebration to sacred liturgy through daily chanting.

Dubbed “one of the most supremely gifted organists of his generation” by the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Jacobs’ technical acumen and emotional artistry regularly dumbfounds and delights audiences. This season he will be dazzling organ aficionados in Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta, and San Francisco to name a few.

To commemorate the 250^th Anniversary of Bach’s death he made musical history by playing the composer’s complete organ works in an 18 hour marathon. He was just 23 at the time. In 2010 he became the first ever organ soloist to win the Best Solo Instrumental Grammy for his recording of Messiaen Livre du Saint Sacrement.

It has been proven time and time again in the past decade that The Walt Disney Concert Hall organ designed by Frank Gehry and Manuel Rosales is a magnificent instrument. Made up of exterior pipes of vertical grain Douglas fir and interior pipes of tin, lead alloys, wood, and Norwegian pine ranging in size from pencil thin to telephone pole thick the dynamic range can literally bring down the house. When Mr. Jacobs works his magic across the keys it will no doubt be a feast for the ears and a concert not to be missed.

As usual the concert will be preceded by an informal and informational chat about the organ, organist and the piece to be performed. This Sunday’s Upbeat Live will be hosted by Thomas Neenan in the BP Hall at 6:30. The lecture is free to ticketed attendees.

photos by  Felix Broede and  Christina Wilton

Paul Jacobs, organ
Norbertine Canons of St. Michael’s Abbey
BACH: Clavier-Ãœbung III
presented by LA Phil
Sunday May 4 at 7:30 pm
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 South Grand Ave.
for tickets, call 323.850.2000
or visit www.laphil.com