Paris’ Notre-Dame Organist to Perform in Sykes Chapel

World-renowned virtuoso Olivier Latry, organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, will perform two organ concerts at The University of Tampa as part of its 2011-2012 Concert Artist Series in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values.

The concerts are Friday, Nov. 18, at 6 and 8 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Doors will open 30 minutes before the concert.

Latry, one of the world’s most distinguished organists occupying the foremost positions in the musical world, will perform the Prelude and Fugue in E-flat (the “St. Anne”) by J.S. Bach, César Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variation, Charles-Marie Widor’s Allegro from his Sixth Symphony, the Aria by Jehan Alain and Olivier Messiaen’s Dieu parmi nous.

He will perform on the 58-stop Dobson pipe organ in the Sykes Chapel, an instrument installed only a year ago, but already acknowledged as one of the finest such instruments in Florida.

Latry will conclude each program with an improvisation on themes submitted to him at the concert. This is a particular feature of the skills of organists from France.

In 1990 at the age of 23, Latry ascended to the pinnacle position of Organist titulaire of Notre-Dame following a public competition for the post. He had previously studied with a number of France’s finest virtuoso organist/composers including Gaston Litaize. Incredibly, at the age of 12, he had already been appointed the organist at Meaux Cathedral.

Latry has won signal honors and prizes internationally including the Performer of the Year Award of the American Guild of Organists. He received an honorary doctor of music degree from McGill University, and an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Organists. Latry teaches at the Paris Conservatory and in Fall 2010 taught at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.

The Concert Artist Series 2011-2012 is sponsored by the UT College of Arts and Letters and the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. For more information, contact caldean@ut.edu or go to www.ut.edu/sykeschapel.