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Stravinsky and Ravel on the Organ

Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Ravel’s Bolero are two signature works of the OSM’s repertoire. But have you ever heard them played on the organ? Four acclaimed organists invite you to discover these masterpieces in truly remarkable versions for the “King of instruments”. The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique will take on orchestral dimensions for this concert that reinvents two well-known summits of classical music, made possible by the organ’s powerful, contrasting timbres. Come and experience an extraordinary moment!

Season partner

Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Ravel’s Bolero are two signature works of the OSM’s repertoire. But have you ever heard them played on the organ? Four acclaimed organists invite you to discover these masterpieces in truly remarkable versions for the “King of instruments”. The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique will take on orchestral dimensions for this concert that reinvents two well-known summits of classical music, made possible by the organ’s powerful, contrasting timbres. Come and experience an extraordinary moment!

Artists

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

Olivier Latry, OSM organist emeritus

Shin-Young Lee, organ

With participating artists Isabelle Demers Jean-Willy Kunz 

Programme

Alexandre Guilmant, Organ Sonata no. 1 in D minor: III. Final (7 min.)

Vierne, Organ Symphony no. 3 in F-sharp minor, op. 28: IV. Adagio (8 min.)

Marcel Dupré, Prelude and Fugue in G minor, op. 7, no. 3 (7 min.)

Pierre CochereauBoléro on a Theme by Charles Racquet (13 min.)

Intermission (20 min.)

Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring, for piano four-hands (arr. Stravinsky, 35 min.)

Ravel, Bolero, for four organists and snare drum (arr. Burge, 12 min.)

The Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique was generously offered to the OSM by Mrs. Jacqueline Desmarais.

Total duration110minutes

Olivier Latry

OSM Organist emeritus

Regarded as one of the world’s foremost ambassadors of the organ, Olivier Latry has performed on the most prestigious stages worldwide, among others as a guest of major orchestras under renowned conductors. He has recorded with several prominent labels and premiered an impressive number of new works. Appointed titular organist of Notre-Dame de Paris’ Grandes Orgues at age 23 following a competitive examination, he has also been named Organist Emeritus of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Above all, he is an accomplished, thoughtful, and adventurous musician who explores all possible fields of his instrument. Olivier Latry will also serve as Organist-in-Residence of the Dresden Philharmonic in 2025–2026. A professor of organ at the Conservatoire de Paris until June 2024, he currently serves as William T. Kemper Artist-in-Residence at the University of Kansas School of Music in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Shin-Young Lee

Organ

Originally from South Korea and now living in Paris, Shin-Young Lee completed advanced studies with Tong-Soon Kwak, Jean-Paul Imbert, Michel Bouvard, Olivier Latry, and Jean Guillou. A regular of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and renowned places of worship such as Notre-Dame de Paris, Geneva Cathedral, the University of Pretoria and St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, she is the guest of major organ festivals including those of Chartres, Harlem and Toulouse les Orgues. She performs with orchestras, regularly sits on competition juries and gives masterclasses internationally. Her recordings include Transprovisations on the organ of Munich’s Michaelskirche, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring for organ four hands with Olivier Latry.
Shin-Young Lee is the author of several commissioned and freelance organ transcriptions. Most recently, she transcribed Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals for the renowned publisher Schott.

Isabelle Demers

Organ

In 2010, Isabelle Demers performed a recital for the 2010 International Society of Organbuilders/American Institute of Organbuilders Convention which “left the entire congress in an atmosphere of ‘Demers fever.’’’ This impact continues unabated, close to 15 years later. With her “bracing virtuosity” (Chicago Classical Review) and “fearless and extraordinary” artistic personality (Amarillo-Globe News), she has enraptured critics, presenters, and audience members around the globe with spellbinding performances. Her acclaimed recordings on the Acis and Pro Organo labels have been heralded as “expressive … profound and searching” (RSCM, Church Music Quarterly). Born in Québec and a graduate of The Juilliard School, Dr. Demers is Associate Professor of Organ at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. 

Jean-Willy Kunz

Organist-in-residence with the OSM

Jean-Willy Kunz, Organist-in-Residence with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, is responsible for the development and enhancement of the Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique. He has performed as a soloist with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Les Violons du Roy and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and has premiered works by significant composers. Owing to his various interests, Jean-Willy Kunz is involved in numerous projects that bring a fresh perspective to the organ: jazz with saxophonist Branford Marsalis; pop with Pierre Lapointe; stage music with Cirque du Soleil; contemporary music with Quatuor Bozzini; or Baroque music with Ensemble Caprice. His discography includes several recordings that demonstrate the versatility of his musical influences, notably Symphonie et créations for organ and orchestra with the OSM (Juno award, 2016). Jean-Willy Kunz is Professor of Organ at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and Artistic Director of the Canadian International Organ Competition.