France–Canada Distinguished Visitor in Music: Organ Recital by Thierry Escaich

Thierry Escaich’s residency is made possible by our France-Canada Cross-Cultural Exchanges in Music and Art History program, supported by Foundation DRG.

PROGRAM

Musical Offering

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

Ricercare a 6

11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)

2. Herzliebster Jesu

4. Herzlich tut mich erfreuen

Sonata in F minor

Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)

I. Allegro

II. Adagio

III. Andante recitativo

IV. Allegro assai vivace

Improvised Prelude and Fugue (on a given theme)

Thierry Escaich (b.1965)

INTERMISSION

Trois poèmes pour orgue 

Escaich

I. Eaux Natales

II. Le Masque

III. Vers l’espérance

L’Ascension

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)

II. Alleluias sereins d'une âme qui désire le ciel

Symphonie-Passion, Op. 23

Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)

III. Le Monde dans l'attente du SauveurFinal

Improvised Triptych (on a given theme)

Escaich

BIOGRAPHY

Composer, organist and improviser Thierry Escaich is a unique figure in contemporary music and one of the most important French composers of his generation.  The three elements of Escaich’s artistry are inseparable, allowing him to express himself as a virtuosic performer, interpreter and creator at the highest level. 

Escaich composes works in many genres and forms, including opera, symphonic and chamber music.  His catalogue numbers over 100 works which, with their lyrical, rich harmonies and rhythmic energy, have attracted a wide audience.  Drawing from the French line of composition of Ravel, Messiaen and Dutilleux, and imbued with references from contemporary, jazz, popular and spiritual music, the distinctive sound-world of Escaich’s music is anchored by an obsessive rhythmic drive and compelling architecture.  Escaich’s works are performed by leading orchestras in Europe and North America and by musicians such as Lisa Batiashvili, François Leleux, Andris Nelsons, Alain Altinoglu, Louis Langrée, Semyon Bychkov, Paavo Järvi, Alan Gilbert, Emmanuelle Bertrand and Paul Meyer. 

Major works in Escaich’s catalogue include Chaconne for orchestra; oratorio Le Dernier Évangile; and a double concerto for violin and cello, Miroir d’ombres. His first opera Claude, on a libretto by Robert Badinter after Victor Hugo’s Claude Gueux, was premiered at the Opéra de Lyon in March 2013 to great acclaim, soon followed by a second full-length opera, Shirine, premiered at the Opéra de Lyon in May 2022. His chamber opera, Point d’orgue, received its commissioned premieres by Opéra National de Bordeaux and Opéra Théâtre de Saint-Étienne in 2022.  Recent new works include a Flute Concerto premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic, a Piano Concerto (Études symphoniques) for Seong-Jin Cho and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and a Cello Concerto for Gautier Capuçon co-commissioned by Gewandhaus zu Leipzig and Boston Symphony Orchestra. 

Works for organ are an important feature of Escaich’s music and they are performed by organists around the world, including solo and chamber works, three concerti, and the symphonic poem La Barque solaire for organ and orchestra.  Escaich’s Organ Concerto No.1 was selected as a highlight of the organ concerto repertoire in Gramophone: “His concerto exploits the full sonic and color ranges of orchestra and organ in this thrilling three-movement work, the second movement rising to an awe-inspiring climax only topped by the shattering coda of the finale.”  Escaich made his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic in 2022 and has also appeared as soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and Concerto Budapest.  Escaich was Organist and Composer in Residence at the Dresdner Philharmonie in the 2022/23 season. 

Thierry Escaich is one of the ambassadors of the great French school of improvisation, and was recently appointed one of the three titular organists at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris following the reopening of the Cathedral.  He appears in recitals internationally, combining repertoire pieces with his own compositions and improvisations.  His passion for cinema has led him to perform “cine-concerts”, improvised accompaniments on both the organ and piano for silent films such as Phantom of the Opera and Metropolis.

A major highlight of the 2023/24 season will be the world premiere of a new Violin Concerto for Renaud Capuçon, premiered by the Munich Philharmonic and toured to the Paris Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Vienna Musikverein.  The Munich Philharmonic will also give the German premiere of piano concerto Études symphoniques with Seong-Jin Cho, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, and in the same week, Escaich performs a program of chamber music with musicians from the orchestra.  In May 2024, a new concertante work for violin and orchestra will be premiered at the Queen Elisabeth Competition.  Escaich will perform as concerto soloist with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Wrocław Philharmonic and Pacific Symphony.  Also this season, Escaich performs recitals at Glasgow Cathedral Festival, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh, Collégiale Saint-Thiébaut in Thann, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Brucknerhaus Linz and Festival Kirchklang. 

Many of Escaich’s works have been recorded by Accord/Universal.  His 2011 release Les Nuits hallucinées crowned his residency with the Orchestre National de Lyon and received numerous distinctions, including a “Choc de l’année” from Classica magazine as an outstanding release of the year.  The first production of Claude was released on DVD (BelAir Classiques).  Other releases include Baroque Song on Sony Classical, Aria with Richard Galliano, Fusion with the Ellipsos Saxophone Quartet and Cris with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. 

Thierry Escaich has been honored by five “Victoires de la Musique” awards (2003, 2006, 2011, 2017 and 2022) and continues to teach composition and improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire, where he himself studied and obtained eight “premiers prix”.  In 2013 he received the honor of being appointed to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and in 2018 he took the prestigious role of Featured Composer at the Radio France Présences Festival.

Thierry Escaich is represented in North America by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.

Acknowledgements

The Faculty of Music wishes to thank the Pastor and parishioners of Saint Basil’s, as well as Director of Music, Dr. John Paul Farahat, for their generous support and gracious welcome during this week’s events with Maestro Escaich.

The Faculty of Music welcomes organist, composer and improviser Thierry Escaich as one of three France-Canada Distinguished Visitors in Music for the 2024-2025 season. A renowned contemporary composer and performer and  professor of organ at the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique et de Danse de Paris, M. Escaich was recently named titular organist of the grand organ at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris to begin in December 2024. Escaich will work with U of T Music students in one-on-one coachings and a public masterclass, speak in an academic seminar and a panel event, and will perform a free concert at St. Basil's Catholic Parish.

http://www.escaich.org/en/pages/about/about.html