Iveta Apkalna, Organ

Date & Time

Mon, Apr 22, 2024, 20:00

Venue

Franz Liszt was one of the greatest artists of his time. A marvellous virtuoso, a master of self-expression and, later in life, a monk-like recluse. That being the case, his music is both a playground for the piano virtuoso and a canon of equal significance on a metaphysical level too. And this is especially true of his organ music. Liszt’s programme music takes on a whole new dimension on this king of instruments – be it his portrayal of the... Read full text

Keywords: Organ Concert

Info & Ticket (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Musicians

Iveta Apkalna

Organ

Program

Gabriel Pierné	Trois Pièces, Op. 29
Gabriel Dupont	Méditation
Léon Boëllmann	Suite gothique, Op. 25
César Franck	Pièce héroïque in B minor, FWV 37
Franz Liszt	Prometheus S 99 / adaptation for organ by Jean Guillou
Franz Liszt	Funérailles / from: Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S 173
Franz Liszt	Légende No. 2, S 175 »St. François de Paule marchant sur les flots« / Bearbeitung für Orgel von Max Reger
Aivars Kalējs	Toccata über den Choral »Allein Gott in der Höh’ sei Ehr«

Give feedback

Last update: Thu, Nov 21, 2024, 15:06

Similar events

These events are similar in terms of concept, place, musicians or the program.

This season

In Hamburg

Iveta Apkalna, organ

Tue, Jun 3, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Iveta Apkalna (Organ)

Iveta Apkalna pursues two milestones in organ music: Johann Sebastian Bach’s enormous Chaconne and César Franck’s ground-breaking »Grande pièce symphonique«, whose title alludes to the symphonic sound possibilities of the organ and fully exploits them. The titular organist of the Elbphilharmonie complements her solo programme with three further pieces, which also showcase »her« instrument in full splendour. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chaconne was originally composed for violin. The contrapuntal entanglements which Bach created within it have, however, inspired several composers to arrange this work for organ. Also, the »Danse Macabre« by Camille Saint-Saëns, originally composed for voice and piano, only became famous in its orchestral version and sounds just as very wonderfully eerie on the organ. César Franck dedicated his »Prélude, fugue et variation« to his friend and organ colleague Saint-Saëns; the three movements seem very different and yet hang together thematically. As one of the forefathers of organ symphony, Franck is at the inception of a development which had far-reaching consequences for organ building and organ music: to this day (and so also at the Elbphilharmonie), the thousand organ pipes of one instrument should ideally cover the full range of symphonic sound. Iveta Akpalna, who, as the titular organist, knows the Elbphilharmonie organ like hardly anyone else, can exploit the entire colourful richness of the instrument to perfectly set the scene for each piece of her programme.

Info & Ticket (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Finished

Iveta Apkalna / Herbert Schuch

Wed, Mar 26, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Iveta Apkalna (Organ), Herbert Schuch (Piano)

They both have keyboards – but that is just about where the common ground between the organ and piano ends. One needs wind to produce its sound, while the other has hammers that strike its strings. The former is often associated with the sacred interior of a church, where its monumental form, known as the prospect, often looms high above, while the latter has been a staple item of furniture in many a private living room ever since the 19th century. So there is little overlap between the two, which is why compositions for both instruments together are so extremely rare. Iveta Apkalna, organist-in-residence at the Elbphilharmonie, and pianist Herbert Schuch have now curated a programme that presents the two instruments both separately and together in all their glory. Two works form the focus of this concert, both by Julius Reubke who died young: he composed a large piano sonata and an organ sonata. The latter is an absolute highlight of the repertoire for organ romanticism, transferring the newly created genre of symphonic poetry to the organ with a powerful sound by setting the 94th Psalm of the bible to music. As famous as the organ sonata is, the sister work for piano is rarely performed – although the virtuoso passages and colourful symphonies can certainly stand up alongside Franz Liszt. Set around these two solo works, where Iveta Apkalna and Herbert Schuch have the spotlight to themselves, there are works that prove the organ and piano can complement each other to wonderful effect: the mysterious »Choral’s Dream« by French organ master Thierry Escaich is performed at the beginning. A generation before him, his colleague and fellow countryman Jean Langlais also composed works for organ and piano. And the Latvian composer Andris Dzenītis even stages a world premiere this evening.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Finished

Iveta Apkalna

Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 20:00

Kölner Philharmonie (Köln)

Iveta Apkalna (Organ)

Iveta Apkalna describes Latvian organ compositions as a "mirror of her soul." In her portrait series, the Latvian organist dedicates an evening to her homeland. Featuring original compositions and arrangements, including Pēteris Vasks' "Hymnus," Aivars Kalējs' gentle "Via Dolorosa," and Lūcija Garūta's sensitive "Meditation." Music for the soul.

Info (www.koelner-philharmonie.de)

This season

In Köln

Iveta Apkalna & Alinde Quartett

Tue, Jun 17, 2025, 20:00

Kölner Philharmonie (Köln)

Iveta Apkalna (Organ), Alinde Quartett (Ensemble)

Organist Iveta Apkalna and the Alinde Quartet conclude their Philharmonic portrait concert series with a joint performance. Their program spans diverse musical eras, including a new piece by Hindemith Prize winner SJ Hanke. Beginning with a Mozart church sonata, they showcase individual brilliance, with Apkalna celebrating Philip Glass's soundscapes and the Alinde Quartet performing Respighi's Quartetto dorico.

Info & Ticket (www.koelner-philharmonie.de)

Finished

Iveta Apkalna | Luxembourg Philharmonic | Gustavo Gimeno

Sun, Oct 27, 2024, 18:00

Kölner Philharmonie (Köln)

Iveta Apkalna (Organ), Luxembourg Philharmonic (Ensemble), Gustavo Gimeno (Conductor)

The Organ Concerto by Francis Poulenc, a classic of the large-scale organ repertoire, is performed by Latvian organist Iveta Apkalna with the Luxembourg Philharmonic under Gustavo Gimeno. The concert also features a new work by Claude Lenners and Ottorino Respighi's "Roman Festivals" and "Pines of Rome".

Info (www.koelner-philharmonie.de)

Finished

Zuzana Ferjenčíková, organ

Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Zuzana Ferjenčíková (Organ)

When a composer writes a work they have a clear idea or vision of how they want it to sound. Sometimes though, other tonal ideas emerge in retrospect, or history decides that a work can, in fact, sound quite different. That is the moment for the arranger to step in and tailor a new »tonal garment« for the piece, as it were. In the case of Franz Liszt’s symphonic poems, for instance, this was done by his contemporary Alexander Winterberger and the modern visionary Jean Guillou. Winterberger turned the piano variations on »Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen« into a veritable organ work – so successfully, in fact, that the original piano version is hardly ever played nowadays. Guillou, on the other hand, himself a first-rate virtuoso, took Liszt’s vision of the Orpheus saga and expanded on it to create a fabulous orgy of sound for organ. Now the Slovak organist and former Guillou student Zuzana Ferjenčíková is just the right person to perform this repertoire. Blessed with a phenomenal technique and driven by an incessant inner passion, she breathes new life into these arrangements at her Elbphilharmonie debut – which includes Sergei Rachmaninov’s famous »Isle of the Dead« and keyboard works by Mozart, one of which Ferjenčíková has arranged herself. Finally, Guillou’s truly titanic fantasy on Hyperion, the divine messenger of light, is an original work written for the organ.>

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Finished

Karol Mossakowski, Organ

Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

Karol Mossakowski (Organ)

France and Germany – today, these two countries are best friends. The long-standing rivalry between them has, however, not only led to many a disagreement in politics. Even in the field of organ music, they took different paths for a long time: in France, people celebrated sound and tone colour; in Germany, virtuosity and counterpoint. Karol Mossakowski showcases the best of both worlds: a sedate organ symphony in the style of Widor, sound magic in the style of Fauré and visionary music in the style of Alain – all of them first-rate musical gems. Fauré clad the myth of Pelléas and Mélisande in subtle, highly sensitive sounds, Alain paved the way for the 21st century with his organ music widening the musical horizon. Not for nothing are the moving Litanies on the foundation of human existence some of the most widely played organ works of all for instance. Mendelssohn and Liszt are bywords for the German Romantic school. The variations sérieuses as well as the Mephisto Waltzes had originally been written for piano, but the art of arrangement has a long tradition especially in organ circles. What is not playable will be made playable – that is the motto here. After all, compared with pianists, organists also have two feet and an enormous pool of tonal colours at their disposal. Karol Mossakowski will also make use of this when he pursues another tradition cultivated by organists: improvisation. Here too, he is a true master of his trade.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Finished

David Briggs, Organ

Thu, Feb 6, 2025, 20:00

Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)

David Briggs (Organ)

The first part of David Briggs’ concert proceeds majestically, the second part is symphonic. With this British organist, one of the stars of the organ world is gracing the Elbphilharmonie: previously a cathedral organist in Truro and Gloucester, then as artist in residence in New York and Toronto, he is in demand worldwide when the king of instruments is to sound. Because if there is one thing that the British can do it is this: royal splendour! The baroque composer Jeremiah Clarke had already elegantly celebrated this in his »Prince of Denmark’s March«. This is why the contemporary composer Patrick Gowers has written a humorous remark in the rumba rhythm. The story of Pelléas and Mélisande, which Claude Debussy immersed in impressionistic orchestral colours and David Briggs arranged for organ, also plays in the royal atmosphere. Furthermore, Briggs is devoted to Symphony No. 1 by Johannes Brahms. Because this is his speciality: arranging big orchestral symphonies for symphonic organ. Primarily, the symphonies of Gustav Mahler impressed the Brit, but also Brahms is eminently suitable, especially his first symphonic opus. The tremendous pedal point for instance (fittingly the name for accompanying repeated notes) with which the first movement begins is really made to be played on the eponymous instrument. And with a skilful arranger such as David Briggs we can be certain: the other three movements will also sound as if they were composed for the organ. Especially when he has such a symphonic instrument as the organ of the Elbphilharmonie under his feet and hands.

Info (www.elbphilharmonie.de)

Finished

Sportlov: Organ presentation

Wed, Feb 26, 2025, 12:00

Konserthuset Stockholm, The Main Hall (Stockholm)

Ulf Norberg (Presenter)

With 6,100 pipes, lots of keys and its own balcony (!), the Konserthuset organ is one of the country's largest instruments. Experience when our own organist Ulf Norberg talks about how the organ works. He will also play so that you can experience the amazing sounds that the organ can make, from the smallest to the largest pipe!Suitable for children 6–12 years. In Swedish only. Learn more about the organ at Konserthuset Stockholm

Info (www.konserthuset.se)

Next month

In Dresden

Organ and dance

Wed, May 21, 2025, 20:00

Kulturpalast Dresden, Konzertsaal (Dresden)

Olivier Latry (Organ), Shin-Young Lee (Organ)

There are organ concerts, and then there are very special organ concerts. When palace organist Olivier Latry joins forces with Shin-Young Lee on the keys, the magnificent sound of the concert hall organ becomes an even more impressive musical event. This time, the program includes works that were not originally written for the organ, but their polyphony and orchestral colors create a unique effect on this instrument. "Le sacre du printemps" by Igor Stravinsky is one of these works. And even the famous "Sunrise" from Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloé" gains a special colorfulness on the organ. By invitation of the Dresden Philharmonic Concert as part of the Dresden Music Festival

Info & Ticket (www.dresdnerphilharmonie.de)