It's a first! For the first time in its history, the Orgue association in France, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this weekend, is inviting sixty organists from all over Europe for a great night of improvisation. The latter will take place on the night of October 23 to 24, until dawn, at the Saint-Eustache church, in Paris: an emblematic platform of the French organistic world. An aura that the instrument, entirely rebuilt in 1989 by the Dutch maker Van den Heuvel, owes in large part to its imposing forest of 8,000 pipes (for 101 games). But also to the charisma of its holders: from the indispensable and regretted Jean Guillou, who watched over his destiny until 2015, to the young prodigy instrumentalists who succeeded him, Thomas Ospital and Baptiste-Florian Marie-Ouvrard.
Tonight, they will share one of the organ's two consoles, its mobile console, with several dozen of their colleagues.
A panorama of the European organ which will see some of the greatest performers and composers of our time parade, from Thierry Escaich to Eric Lebrun, via Daniel Roth or the holders of the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris Olivier Latry and Philippe Lefebvre.
This one, president of Organ in France, will close this improvisation night at 7:48 sharp, succeeding the young Karol Mossakowski, resident organist at Radio France.
Read also Olivier Latry, the watchman of the great organ of Notre-Dame
In total, each will have twelve minutes to improvise, around the classical repertoire but also themes from jazz, song or traditional music ... A way to "demystify" the instrument, which for the occasion will be listened to. in exceptional conditions. In addition to the presence of the console in the middle of the nave, carpets will in fact be placed all around to allow the captive public (the event is completely free, only the sanitary pass is required) to lie down as close as possible to the performers. Throughout the night, grazing and changing lighting will accompany the improvisations, transforming Saint-Eustache into a veritable vessel of light.
Founded in 2011, Orgue en France has set itself the dual objective of ensuring the preservation and enhancement of the exceptional heritage of organs in France, while endeavoring to thwart the many clichés from which the instrument still suffers.
