Adriano Falcioni - J.S. Bach in Himmerod Abbey (2022) [Hi-Res]

This new recording presents the unique Klais organ of the Himmerod Abbey (Germany) in its full glory.

The Klais organ was built in 1962. Judging from the stop list, the organ certainly fits the description “typical Neobaroque.” But having once heard the instrument, embedded as it is in the cathedral acoustics of the impressive Himmerod hall church, it is apparent that the organ is acoustically far ahead of its time. Particularly the warm, cantabile voices of the Flötenchöre impart a distinct, light Romantic sound and the combination of gentle strings (Viola di Gamba) and their corresponding undulating stop, indispensable to the Catholic liturgy, was considered as a “Neoromantic” tendency in 1962. The Himmerod organ created a new style, merging for the first time in a contemporary work the classic organ building tradition with a sound departing from the Neobaroque, thus creating an exemplary synthesis of styles and sounds.

Italian organist Adriano Falcioni chose a fitting, spectacular program for this organ showcase: three organ transcriptions, the famous Chaconne (arr. Matthey), Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue (arr. Reger) and Sicilienne (arr. Vierne), a Vivaldi/Bach Concerto, and the mighty Passacaglia BWV 582.

Adriano Falcioni’s recordings for Brilliant Classics encompass many of the Romantic era’s most celebrated organ composers. Praise in Fanfare for his previous albums: ‘Falcioni clearly has the right feel for this repertoire, in tempos and registrations and ability to bind together phrases and sections into coherent larger wholes’ (Reger, 95075). ‘A top contender... Everything is idiomatically played by Adriano Falcioni on a fine instrument... Strongly recommended’ (Brahms, 94460). Further praise for the Reger album, recorded on the same organ as the present set of Liszt, came from the Italian Organ Compendium: ‘Highly recommended to our readers, who will find an excellent repertoire, a very good interpreter and an instrument of great interest.’