Australian organist gives recital

Press, 15 November 1977, Page 28

Australian organist gives recital

By

C. Foster Browne

Dr Harold Fabrikant, of Melbourne, gave a lunchhour organ recital in Christchurch Cathedral.

He began and ended with works by the French composer, Jean Langlais — the Chant de Paix at the beginning and the Chant Heroique at the end.

The first work, on delicate solo stops, with string-tone accompaniment, all very sensitively chosen, had a mystical atmosphere, and the “Chant Heroique” had a vigour which wound up the programme well. The 11 chorale preludes by Brahms were the second part of the programme. It is not immediately evident, or even likely, that Brahms intended these to be played one after another, and no real climax is offered. Dr Fabrikant played them fluently, with clear phrasing and well contrasted registration, “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen,” the best-known of them all, was played with channing delicacy. Louis Vierne’s Andantino, from the "Fantasie Pieces," had his customary and characteristic piquancy and the playing and colour-changes charmingly realised this. From a programming point of view, in levels ami atmosphere it was somewhat similar to the Brahms works.