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Le Grand Cavaillé-Coll de la Cathédrale d’Angers
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This CD was made in 1998 to mark the centenary of the death of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. It is a collection of music by composers who were influenced by - and who, in turn, influenced - this great organ-builder. Works by Franck, Vierne, Tournemire, Alain, Gigout and Messiaen allow C-C’s full palette of tone-colour to be explored.
Nicole Morelle provides notes to her programme in both French and quite delightful, if occasionally idiosyncratic, English. These give insight into the immense care taken in the decision to use this organ and in the choice of pieces. Mme Morelle wishes us to hear what the builder and composers themselves would have heard. To this end, she has engaged in much historical and musicological research and she gives highly competent and evocative performances, ending, in the best tradition, with a seven-minute extemporisation of her own. It comes as a surprise to learn that she is not a full-time professional organist. After achieving high qualifications as pharmacist and biologist, she worked as an industrial manager - and wrote novels as a side-line!
The instrument at Angers cathedral, in the Loire valley, some 300km from Paris, seems undeservedly little-known outside France. The booklet is informative on its history, though in the printed specification, registers of récit and pédale have become interchanged. Forty-seven of its 65 speaking stops are by Cavaillé-Coll and the additions of 50 years ago seem entirely happy. Despite the need for a complete restoration at the time of the recording, it is a joy to the ear. Much credit must go to Yves Sévère, who cares for it; if only all organs were so beautifully prepared for recording as this. It is a disc many lovers of the French school will appreciate and enjoy.
The instrument at Angers cathedral, in the Loire valley, some 300km from Paris, seems undeservedly little-known outside France. The booklet is informative on its history, though in the printed specification, registers of récit and pédale have become interchanged. Forty-seven of its 65 speaking stops are by Cavaillé-Coll and the additions of 50 years ago seem entirely happy. Despite the need for a complete restoration at the time of the recording, it is a joy to the ear. Much credit must go to Yves Sévère, who cares for it; if only all organs were so beautifully prepared for recording as this. It is a disc many lovers of the French school will appreciate and enjoy.
Reviewed by David Bridgeman-Sutton, July, 2007
