Walton, Venables, Elgar, Blair, Stravinsky, Parry, Tchaikovsky, Tomlinson, Chopin, Wagner

COMPOSERS: Blair,Chopin,Elgar,Parry,Stravinsky,Tchaikovsky,Tomlinson,Venables,Wagner,Walton
LABELS: Regent
ALBUM TITLE: Collection: Organ Music from Worcester Cathedral
WORKS: Works
PERFORMER: Adrian Lucas (organ)
CATALOGUE NO: REGCD 159

This is the first of a new series of solo organ recordings in High-Density Surround Sound for future release in this format. Meanwhile, in humble stereo, the Worcester Cathedral organ seems, as do many organs perched awkwardly beneath the vaults of historic gothic buildings, distinctly strangulated. Perhaps the surround sound will help clarify the fact that part of the instrument is on the north side of the Choir, and part in the South Transept. Although there’s a specification list in the booklet (the organ is basically a 1925 four-manual Harrison), it would have been helpful to have had at least brief notes on the registration of individual pieces; after all, some CD booklets give details of every change of stop. This is not a recording for those who regard the swell box as an invention of the devil, and half the pieces in a very old-fashioned programme are arrangements, leaving you with that slightly empty feeling after a meal with more trimmings than meat. Yet Adrian Lucas is certainly a sensitive player and gives the second movement of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony an appropriately winged sense of motion. He can also get around Parry’s impressive Fantasia and Fugue in G, which is spoilt only by disruptive dynamic contrasts. Adrian Jack