Dromore Cathedral Director of Music, Orly Watson will give a free Advent organ recital in St. Mark’s Parish, Portadown on Saturday 23rd November, at 1:15pm.
Orly, who is also a pianist, has recently been appointed a Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and has put together a programme of French and German music, with each piece reflecting aspects of the Advent and Christmas season.
Speaking of the event, he says, “I look forward to returning to St. Mark’s, which boasts one of the finest organs in the country. My programme is composed of music representing the French and German organ schools, and traverses a period of three centuries. In addition to some popular favourites, I will perform several major virtuoso works of a more serious character: Max Reger’s Weihnachten, inspired by the atmosphere of Christmas during WWI, and the great fugue from Widor’s Symphonie Gothique. Each work quotes one or more carol tunes, and will, I hope, help to welcome in the festive season before the inevitable Christmas busyness takes hold.”
The concert is a free event, but a retiring collection will be lifted in aid of the Church Building Fund.