Olivier Latry to give inaugural concert on new Grand Organ at Our Lady of Victories

Timothy Macklin

Our Lady of Victories in Kensington, west London, will be celebrating the inauguration of their newly refurbished Grand Organ later this month.

Olivier Latry, Titular Organist at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will be giving a special Concert after the blessing on Thursday, 20 January.

Work on the Grand Organ was commissioned in 2019 and completed in 2021. The new organ was built by the Slovenian firm Skrabl. The firm encountered a number of challenges during the project - not least Covid restrictions on work and travel.

The organ is constructed and voiced in the French Symphonic style - inspired by the 19th century work of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. There are 53 speaking stops over four manual divisions and pedals.

The inspiration for the instrument and console was drawn from several Parisian instruments: Notre Dame Cathedral, La Madeleine, and Sacre Coeur. This French style is also imbued with a number of British design features and 21st Century characteristics, such as a 'pedal divide' function.

Some of the pipework from the old instrument was retained and restored, and these surviving pipes have been incorporated into the new organ, alongside the brand new pipework. The versatility of the instrument allows the organ to be used very effectively in a wide range of musical styles. both for the accompaniment of choral repertoire, improvisation, and for solo organ music.

Parish Priest, Mgr Jim Curry, said the parish is deeply grateful to Director of Music Timothy Macklin who led the design process, to consultant David Bednall and several other leading international organists who gave their advice.

The Grand Organ will be blessed at the Masses on the Feast of the Baptism of The Lord (8 and 9 January 2022) by Mgr Curry. The concert will take place on Thursday, 20 January at 7.30pm. The programme will include pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Louis Vierne, and Olivier Latry.

Tickets are £10. To book see: https://olov-kensington.eventbrite.co.uk

LINK

Our Lady of Victories - www.ourladyofvictories.net