Organ Recital: Joseph Nolan

Joseph Nolan is the best organist in Australia, but he’ll be transporting you to 19th century France through the music of Alexandre Guilmant and Charles-Marie Widor.

Guilmant’s Organ Sonata No.1 contains everything you’d expect to hear from this thunderous instrument. Suspense, horror, drama and joy will echo between the walls of the Melbourne Town Hall. The venue’s Grand Organ was built in 1929 and has close to 10,000 pipes, drums, and bells – making it the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

The instrument will get more of a workout under the hands (and feet!) of Nolan when he plays Widor’s Symphony for Organ No.5. Nolan has won awards with Gramophone and Apple Classical for his recordings of Widor’s organ works including this composition. It contains a Toccata movement, which is a style of music named after the skilful ‘touch’ of the virtuosic musician who dares to play it. This gives you a window into just how impressive Nolan’s recital will be.