Paul Jacobs
Sat., Feb. 10, 3 p.m., $19-$28, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St.
classical
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There was a time when superstar organists walked the earth. It was Bach's favorite instrument, and he was far better known in his time as an organist than as a composer. In the last century, the famous rivalry was E. Power Biggs and Virgil Fox. Either could pack huge auditoriums at the drop of a hat. We have many fine organists in our midst these days, but few seem inclined to the kind of razzle-dazzle that the so-called king of instruments so lends itself to.
Enter Paul Jacobs. A proclivity toward showmanship appeared early in his career, when, at the age of 23, he performed the complete organ music of Bach in a nonstop 18-hour marathon in Pittsburgh. From memory! Today, not yet 30, he is the head of the organ department at Juilliard, where applications for organ studies have since doubled.
The Curtis-trained artist returns to an old stomping ground this weekend — the Kimmel Center — to test drive the new Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ, declared to be the largest concert hall organ in America. He will perform the Fantasia for Organ by John Weaver, one of his teachers, as well as music by Franck, Reger and Reubke. But the highlight of the program promises to be a presentation of L'Ascension, by Olivier Messiaen. The late French master was himself a highly regarded organist, and even after achieving international fame as a composer and teacher, he continued to perform in church services. His work represents the purest, most heartfelt and most expressive depiction of spirituality since Bach. L'Ascension is one of the masterpieces for the instrument, and it should be a rare thrill to hear it played on the mighty Cooper.
Sat., Feb. 10, 3 p.m., $19-$28, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.
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