We are delighted to have distinguished organist and choral director Joseph Nolan playing a series of recitals on Regent Classic instruments across the UK later this year.
Joseph Nolan an accomplished Organist
Joseph holds the unique distinction of being the first British/Australian organist to have been recorded commercially on the organs of Buckingham Palace Ballroom, London, St Sulpice Paris, and in September 2015 at St Etienne Du Mont in Paris, the church and organ of Maurice Duruflé: all for award-winning UK record company, Signum Records.
A pupil of two legendary figures in the musical world, Marie-Claire Alain and Dame Gillian Weir, Joseph being awarded First Class Honours for his BMus final recital at the Temple Church, London. Upon completion of his organ studies in London and Paris, Joseph was appointed to Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal, St James’ Palace in 2004 and performed on many occasions at Buckingham Palace, most notably giving the inaugural recital of the refurbished Ballroom organ to a distinguished invited audience.
As a recording artist for Signum, Joseph’s discography is unique with solo organ discs having been also recorded on the majority of France’s most prized organs including St Sulpice and La Madeleine in Paris, St Ouen Rouen, St Sernin Toulouse and St François de Sales Lyon.
Joseph has recorded the complete organ works of Charles-Marie Widor on many of these instruments to universal critical acclaim, described as ‘utterly authoritative’ by Gramophone Magazine and The Australian Newspaper. They have been awarded multiple five-star awards in BBC Music Magazine, International Record Review, as well as receiving an ‘Editor’s Choice’ in ABC Limelight Magazine. MusicWeb International awarded Volume 4 of the Widor cycle ‘Recording of the Year’ in 2014, as well as describing the cycle as ‘shaping up to be the Widor cycle of the decade’. No doubt this was significant in the award to Joseph of the medal of Chevalier (Knight) in the Order of Arts and Letters by order of the French Minister of Culture and Communication, in recognition of his services to French Music.
Joseph is also an acclaimed choral conductor and was invited to take up the post of Organist and Master of the Choristers at St George’s Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia in March 2008 (pictured below)
The series starts at :-
St Mary’s Witney at 7.00pm on September 24th
The programme will include Widor Reubke Bach and Saint Saens. Entry is free but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the ‘roof restoration’ fund
St Mary’s Nottingham at 3.00pm on Sunday September 25th
The programme is the Reubke Sonata on the 94th psalm and Widor’s 5th Organ Symphony. Entry is free but there will be a retiring collection in aid of the music at St Mary’s.
Normanton Baptist Church at 7.30pm on Friday September 30th
The programme will include Widor, Rawsthorne Dance Suite and Saint Saens. Entry is free but there will be a retiring collection for the church hall restoration. (Read our blog post all about our organ installation at this church.)
The Great Hall Swansea University at 3.00pm on Sunday October 2nd
The programme is the Reubke Sonata on the 94th psalm and Widor’s 5th Organ Symphony Entry is by ticket at £15. This link takes you to the box office. Above you can see a picture of The Great Hall’s Regent Classic organ.
St Peter’s Caversham at 6.00pm on Saturday October 8th
The programme includes Bach Widor and Saint Saens. Entry is by ticket at £10 in advance of £12 on the door. Tickets can be obtained via the Church Web Site or from Church House, 59 Church Street Caversham Reading RG4 8AX (Tel 0118 947 1703). Above is a picture of our organ in situ at St Peter’s.
St Mary’s Chalgrove at 7.30 pm on Sunday October 9th
The programme includes Bach, Vierne and Rawsthorne There will be a retiring collection with the hope that each audience member will contribute £7.00. Under 16’s free. For further information consult the church web site at www.chalgrovechurch.org Below you can see a picture of our organ at St Mary’s.
We really hope that you will be able to get to one of Joseph’s performances. We know you will be dazzled by his unique combination of musicianship and technical brilliance. A few are lucky to have just one of these skills, Joseph is master of them both. You will not be disappointed.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Regent Classic Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
[…] my great friend and top class organist Joseph Nolan came all the way from Perth Australia to play a series of concerts for us on a number of recent church installations of our Regent series instruments. These were […]