Sunday 26th November 2017 @ 4.15 pm
St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh
Organ Recital

The next organ recital in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, will be part of Armagh’s Georgian Festival and will be given by NykkÖ–Mickaël Grégoire on Sunday 26 November 2017 at 4.15pm.

NykkÖ was born in France of Russian and Scandinavian stock. He studied the organ, harpsichord and the early electronic musical instrument, the Ondes Martenot, at the conservatory of Bordeaux. He moved to the UK in 2009 and now works with choirs and theatre ensembles. He has also developed an international career, performing music in Europe, South East Asia and America. He plays the cello, duduk (Armenian wind instrument), and bawu (Chinese flute). He travels extensively for his work and has established a unique and distinctive portfolio as a photographer.

In choosing the programme for this Georgian Festival event, NykkÖ said, “I wish to start the concert with a famous Toccata by Bach and close it with another famous Toccata by Gigout, which would be a good way to “frame” the recital. The Prelude Choral “Nun Komm Der Heiden Heilan” BWV659 by J S Bach, is an advent choral which suits well for this time of the year.”

He continued, “I have especially chosen to play some music by Handel because I know that my recital is part of the Georgian Festival of Armagh. By way of a contrast, I thought it would be ideal to play some music from Eastern Europe, which is not generally that well known in Ulster, followed by a gentle piece composed by my best friend, Yannick Fournier, who resides in the Bordeaux area of France. Before closing the recital with Gigout’s Toccata, I have chosen to play the famous Prelude Fugue and Variation by Cesar Franck, a very evocative piece from the French School of the 19th century, a real ‘Song without Words’”.

The Dean of Armagh, the Very Revd Gregory Dunstan, said, “A couple of years ago, I heard NykkÖ give a recital on the historic organ at Kilmore Parish Church. Playing some major pieces on a small instrument, with an entirely mechanical action, it was a tour de force. I look forward very much to hearing him again, with all the resources of the Cathedral organ to draw on.”

Admission to the recital is free with a retiring collection most welcome towards the further endowment of the Cathedral choir through the Archbishop’s Choir Fund. The next organ recital will be held on Sunday 21 January 2018 at 4.15pm and will be given by Mr Orly Watson.

For further information, please contact: St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral: Tel. 028 37523142