Organist Gail Archer Tour Manhattan's Organs for Centennial of Olivier Messiaen January 13, 2008

Grammy-Award nominee Gail Archer, Americas premier professional female contemporary organist, devotes a season-long concert series to the 100th birthday of French composer/organist Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992). In honor of one of the greatest organist composers of all time, Archer takes us on a Messiaen musical journey exploring all six of his complete organ works, while showcasing six of Manhattans superior church organs starting January 13th with Nativite'du Seigneur at Church of the Heavenly Rest and ending May 29th with Livre du Saint Sacrement at St. Patricks Cathedral. Known for complementing Messiaen works with technical prowess, Archer continues her dedication by serving as the only organist to perform his works on six different instruments throughout New York City.

Messiaens exotic and complex musical landscape coupled with his unshakeable Roman Catholic influences make his music unlike any other of Western classical composers. Paying homage to Messiaen, Archer hand-selected the performance venues based on architecture, space, and acoustics, in an effort to recreate the sounds and registrations that Messiaens music calls for, she explains. This concert series follows Archers most recent exploration of Messiaen- the release of her second album A Mystic in the Making (2007). Described as playing his works with authority, assertiveness, and rhythmic exactitude, the American Organist Magazine continues to say that her nearly technically faultless performances result in clarity of complex passagework and exciting moments of virtuosity. In 2002, Archer received much applause for her performance of Les Corps Glorieux (which Messiaen subtitled seven short visions of the life everlasting). According to the New York Times, Archer offered a carefully considered tour of the [these] painterly movements she played with an agility that met the musics coloristic and rhythmic demands without calling attention to itself.
Gail Archer has quickly risen to become one of Americas most successfully renowned organists. Known as an international concert organist, lecturer, and recording artist, Archer recently released her Grammy nominated album A Mystic in the Making (2007) following her 2005 debut CD The Orpheus of Amsterdam, Seelinck, and his Pupils. An active recitalist in both Europe and the United States, she was featured on organ series in Budapest, Turin, Hamburg, Poland, Germany, Italy and the Hague. She performs regularly at festivals worldwide including the Spoleto Festival in South Carolina and the Bach Festival in Florida. She has been hailed as an organist of exemplary taste, (American Record Guide). Archer currently serves as Chair of the Music Department at Barnard College, Columbia University; Director of the Young Artist Series at Central Synagogue; Artistic Director of the Lunchtime Organ Recitals at historic Central Synagogue; Organ Faculty at the Manhattan School of Music; and most recently appointed as College Organist at Vassar College. For everything else, visit http://www.gailarcher.com.

Sunday, January 13th @ 4:00pm
Location: Church of the Heavenly Rest. 2 East 90th St. (Fifth Ave.). Train to 4/5/6 86th St.
Tickets: FREE. First come, first serve. For more info, call 212-289-3400 or visit http://www.heavenlyrest.org

For everything else, visit http://www.gailarcher.com

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of apey2f.