🎹 Experience the leading British organist Stephen Farr in concert on the Wagner organ in Nidaros Cathedral, with a program specially put together around the theme of ESCAPE. 

During the concert, Farr will play works by Bach, Bruhns, Alain, Morgan, Rutti, Böhm and Buxtehude. 

PROGRAM: 
Nikolaus Bruhns 1665–1697: Praeludium in E minor

Jehan Alain 1911-1940: Le jardin suspendu

Carl Rutti 1949- : Lerche (Skylark)

Georg Böhm 1661-1733: Partita ‘Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig’

Diderik Buxtehude 1637-1707:
Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin BuxWV 76
Klaglied

Huw Morgan 1975- : The Kestrel Stands Haloed by the Sun

J S Bach 1685-1750: Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 538

Stephen Farr about the program:

«Before choosing this program, I thought long and hard about the different ideas of “escape” Olavsfest explores, and how the music responds to them. For an organist, the word FUGE naturally brings to mind J.S. Bach, so I will end my programme with my favourite Bach fugue (although it is of course difficult to choose). 
Contemporary works by Rutti and Morgan are inspired by the flight of birds. The idea of flight to refuge underlies Alain’s work, while works by great North German predecessors of J.S. Bach explore the composer’s flight of imagination (Bruhns) and the rapid pace of life and the soul’s flight from the body (Böhm and Buxtehude). 
I hope that the programme provides an opportunity to hear some unfamiliar music, and of course allows the magnificent Wagner organ – an instrument I am very honoured to play – to show itself in unexpected ways to the listener.”

Stephen Farr (b. 1967) is established as one of the leading organists of his generation. He is Chief Examiner at the Royal College of Organists and Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Westminster.

Born in London, he was an Organ Fellow at Clare College Cambridge from 1984-1987, graduating with a Master of Musicology. He also holds a PhD from the University of Surrey.

As a performing organist, he has an extensive discography, releases including J.S. Bach's "Clavierübung 3", "Orgelbüchlein" and "Chorale Partitas", the complete organ works of James MacMillan, works by Francis Grier, Hieronymus Praetorius, music from the 17th-century English repertoire, works by Judith Bingham, and the complete organ works of Kenneth Leighton.

As a soloist, he has performed throughout Europe, in North and South America and Australia, appearing at the Royal Albert Hall (where he premiered Judith Bingham's "The Everlasting Crown" in a solo recital at the 2011 BBC Proms), the Royal Festival Hall, the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, King's College and Westminster Abbey. He gave the Scottish premiere of James MacMillan's organ concerto "A Scotch Bestiary" at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2019.