DAME GILLIAN WEIR BRINGS HER MAGIC TOUCH TO SALISBURY CATHEDRAL ON THURSDAY 19 JULY AT 7.00PM

Dame Gillian Weir, one of the greatest concert organists of today, gives the celebrity organ recital at this year’s Southern Cathedrals Festival in Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday 19 July at 7.00pm. And not only will the audience hear this superb virtuosic performer in action, they will be able to watch her perform on the famous Father Willis organ via a big screen.

David Halls, Festival Director, said “When I started planning this Festival I knew I wanted to invite an organ recitalist who was absolutely at the top of the profession. I invited Dame Gillian Weir and am absolutely delighted she accepted,and know that festival-goers will be in for a real treat on Thursday 19 July. Dame Gillian is playing a typically interesting programme, with music spanning several centuries and representing composers as diverse as Bach and Bovet. This is a recital definitely not to be missed.”

This year’s Southern Cathedrals Festival with the combined choirs from Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals, is hosted by Salisbury Cathedral from Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 July. There are five services, four ‘Youth in Music’ concerts, three major choral concerts, two ‘Late Night Bach by Candlelight’ piano recitals and a Choral Masterclass with Malcolm Archer as well as the celebrity organ recital. Salisbury’s SCF also supports young musicians through its popular ‘Youth in Music’ series, this year with official accompanist Joseph Wicks, a former chorister who has been appointed organ scholar at St John’s, Cambridge from next September.

Tickets for Dame Gillian Weir’s celebrity organ recital, £12 (unreserved) are available from the Festival box office at Salisbury Playhouse, telephone 01722 320333.

SCF 2012 information and booking brochures with full listing of all services and concerts can be downloaded from the Southern Cathedrals Festival website, www.southerncathedralsfestival.org.uk or here.

British concert organist Dame Gillian Weir is one of the foremost musicians in the world today. Combining natural talent, study and hard work along with copious amounts of grace, charm, and wit, she has defined an entirely new role as an ambassador for the King of Instruments and its music. Through her performances with leading orchestras and conductors, non-stop recital tours, public television programmes, interviews, recordings and master classes, Dame Gillian has transformed the image of organist from esoteric musician to beloved celebrity. Performer, scholar and teacher, she has opened the eyes of the world to the music of the organ with her extensive travels and tours throughout Europe, North America, Australasia, and Japan.

Full recital programme
Böhm Praeludium in D minor
J S Bach Allein Gott (BWV 662 and 677)
Mendelssohn Con moto maestoso (Sonata III)
Franck Grande Pièce Symphonique
Saint-Saëns Prelude and Fugue in E flat
Ropek Victimae Paschali Laudes
Bovet Hamburger Totentanz
Boëllmann Toccata (Suite Gothique)