Tuesday 1st April 2008
ORGAN fans are in for a treat at Dorchester Abbey on 5 April, when Thomas Trotter performs a recital in celebration of the newly restored Victorian organ there.
Described as one of today’s greatest living organists, Thomas Trotter is City Organist at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and organist at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey. His recital programme this year takes him to Germany, Rotterdam, Dublin and Australia, as well as to Dorchester.
Mr Trotter told the DOOR he is looking forward to playing in the Abbey and has chosen the recital programme to compliment the age and character of the 19th century J W Walker organ, after consultation with the Abbey’s regular organist, Jeremy Boughton:
‘We have chosen some of the greatest Victorian organ music including W.T Best’s Men of Harlech (Concert Fantasia on a Welsh March), C. Gounod’s Funeral March of a Marionette, and Elgar’s Vesper Voluntaries.’
Playing in a church can be difficult, says Mr Trotter, with the organist often tucked away out of sight making it more difficult to build a rapport with the audience. But he is confident there will be no such difficulties at the Abbey which, as part of the recently finished organ restoration project, has an improved view of the organ loft from the pews.
For details or tickets call 01235 528066.