Thierry Escaich: Improvisation recital

Event Introduction

Organist of Notre-Dame in Paris, Thierry Escaich (*1965) is one of the world’s most sought-after French organist-composer-improvisers. At Musica nova, he can be heard improvising on the Helsinki Music Centre’s new Rieger organ, the unique properties of which afford the organist exciting potential for the expression of contemporary music.

Thierry Escaich is one of the ambassadors of the great French school of improvisation in the wake of Maurice Duruflé, whom he succeeded as organist of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris in 1997. He tours the world as the soloist with top orchestras and in recitals combining both traditional repertoire and improvisation. He is also Professor of Composition and Improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire.

Escaich was still a child when he began playing the organ, but he also visited the world of the accordion into his teens. His interest in numerous genres of music and other arts is manifest in his eclectic artistic freedom. His compositions cover a wide generic range, from organ pieces, operas and concertos to tangos, other dances and ballet, and works by him are in the regular active repertoire of many of the top European orchestras and chamber ensembles. His passion for cinema has led him to perform improvised accompaniments for silent films on both the organ and the piano.

While new music takes classical forwards, its message must, says Escaich, be easily accessible. His contribution to music has won him five French Victoires de la Musique and numerous record awards.

Performers:

Thierry Escaich

In co-operation with:

Musiikkitalo Organ Association

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