Each subsequent time I hear Thomas Annand in recital at the Carmel Bach Festival I am impressed at how masterfully he brings out the best in the organ at the Carmel Mission. I have occasionally heard concerts there where I was aware of wheezy stops with disturbing harmonics, but in Annand's capable hands and with his carefully chosen registration, the organ sounds magnificent.
It was this kind of mastery that we heard in the opening work of his recital at the Mission, the Bach
Prelude & Fugue in G Major, BWV 541. His impeccable sense of rhythm and neat technical control contributed to some lovely, strong playing.
In the following work, the Chorale Prelude on
Vater unser in Himmelreich, by Georg Böhm, Mr. Annand drew more lovely sound from the instrument in this intensely lyrical piece. In the Pachebel Variations on
Was Gott tut das ist wohlgetan Annand constantly surprised us with the variety of registration he used to achieve maximum effect in the contrasting variations.
One of the highlights of the afternoon's program was Buxtehude's
Preludium in G Minor. I hope no one will find me irreverent when I say that hearing the stirring opening page of this work reminded me of hearing the great Wurlitzer theater organ at the State Theater in Monterey in a concert preceding the opening night's screening of the film "Batman" several years ago. On that occasion the sinister "Batman" theme, reinforced by the lowest stops on the theater organ made the whole building tremble and shake. Mr. Annand achieved some of this effect at the beginning of the Buxtehude, and he built the tension of this great work all the way to its dramatic conclusion in a performance that elicited bravos from the audience.
After this intense experience, Mr. Annand treated us to some lovely expressive playing in Bach's Three Chorale Preludes on
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her. Mr. Annand achieved a lovely lyrical cantabile that was very moving.
The recital closed with that great work, Bach's
Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582.Here Mr. Annand brought all his skills to bear and presented a consistently moving and powerful performance. This performance received a rousing standing ovation from the audience.
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