The first performance of the 2009-2010 Great Organ Series, a project of the Butler School of Music’s Center for Sacred Music, featured Olivier Latry, organist at the world renowned Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris. The Great Organ Series brings the world’s most renowned organists to the university to perform on the impressive Visser-Rowland organ in Bates Recital Hall. One of the series most distinguished guest artists, Latry has served as organist with the Notre-Dame Cathedral since 1985 when he was awarded one of three posts. Latry also teaches at the Paris Conservatory while maintaining an active, international touring schedule. He has released many acclaimed recordings which include great organ works by Bach, Widor, Vierene and the complete organ works of Maurice Duruflé.

Latry’s performance spanned a diverse selection of works from the great organ composers including Dietrich Buxtehude and Johann Sebastian Bach. In recognition of the Hallowe’en season, Latry performed Fantômes (from ‘Pieces de Fantaisie’) by Louis Vierne and Dance Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns, preceded by humorous comments on various contemporary ‘spirits’ in his heavily accented English.

Olivier Latry’s great stylistic breadth spans repertoire from the seventeenth to the twenty-first centuries. Not surprisingly, he is also devoted to the art of improvisation and is among the most noted “improvisateurs” in the world. Latry concluded his concert with an extensive improvisation based upon two themes presented to him that evening. He masterfully combined the traditional Gregorian plainchant melody Hodie Christus natus Est with the Shaker hymn melody Simple Gifts, brilliantly reconciling these two contrasting themes.

Olivier Latry’s deep musicality and stunning virtuosity were on great display and provided for an exciting and inspirational onset to this year’s Great Organ Series.