Olivier Latry Final improvisation of the Sunday Mass - Notre Dame de Paris

Roi Robert Alex
KB president

[apm]

To those who wonder what it is like to be in the loft when Mr. Latry unleashes something like this, let me assure you from personal experience that it is like the cathedral itself is singing, with everything solid in vibration, as if the atmosphere itself suddenly became a series of solid things, clashing, and rushing by. Under all that moving air, you feel as exhilarated as if you were crouched beneath a storm passing by just overhead. It is something like that.

[northwestorient]

This was a special mass for the Paris fire brigade, and Latry based this improvisation on the sound of a fire engine’s siren. Fast forward a few years, and here we are: the cathedral is on fire. Ironic to say the least, but hopefully all is not lost and the organ is saved…

EDIT: The organ is miraculously untouched after the fire!

[tinkaluisa]

Praying for Olivier Latry and the people of Notre Dame and Paris.

[xavierjarvis]

I love how he hops off the organ like he just finished eating lunch. Completely unfazed by what he just did

[KPO]

Listening to his improvisation, I would find it impossible to want to leave the building (which is the whole purpose of the Recessional). French improvisation is very unique and rich in tradition and has created a large quantity of amazing performances. Bravo! I wish success for the New Organ Project.

[Urbie]

I keep coming back to this one. As others have commented, not a lot of counterpoint, subtlety, and what-not, but Latry is a top-shelf organist -- as demonstrated in his new recording of the complete works of Messiaen. Here, he just puts his foot to the floor and rocks the house. It's not always what you want to hear at the end of a Sunday service, but to get some from time to time... makes me want to move to Paris!

[niclasbertell]

When I was in Paris many years ago, I visited Notre Dame. It so happened that there was a service starting as I was wandering around the church, sightseeing. Suddenly the most amazing sounds filled the church, I froze, listening, in awe of the master playing the organ. Afterwards I asked in the lady in the information booth if it was indeed M. Latry, and she confirmed that it was. I have been to many concerts, as audience and as a performer, but this is one of my finest memories.

[flyurway]

THAT is organ music!! That's what the s-o-b was built to do!! And no one can do it like Latry. I'm just blown away speechless!

[Chesterbarnes]

Just awesome, he just takes all of the BREATH out of the organ.... he cleans the air in the church with his music...when you finish listening to Lantry you are tired and worn out....

[albertosousatenor]

If anyone where to accurately transcribe this as an orchestral piece, finding in an orchestra the exact timbres Latry creates, they would compose one of the great symphonic preludes of their century, they’d be master orchestrators.
And all that was just in a bit of improvised music that just fell from Latry’s fingers.

[lek]

I was filled with horror and great sadness as I watched Notre Dame burning yesterday. This particular improvisation comes with a lot of irony, given that it followed a Mass dedicated to the firefighters of Paris, its motif being based on the sound of fire-engine sirens.

[sidneyfrederickson]

RIP Notre Dame De Paris. You will rise again and your music will thunder once more!

[ptg]

I can only hope for the sake of Latry, the French peoples, and all of the music world that the great pipes have been spared. My heart aches for Our Lady.

[monsieurw]

Those Parisian improvisers!  A better improviser than this you'll never be...

[maggieblair]

What an incalculably heartbreaking loss to the people of France and the world. May this wonderful music some day again reverberate around the walls of a restored Notre Dame.

[fredscholl]

I am so happy I heard Latry in a concert in NYC some years ago.

[robertowarren]

This piece brings me to tears with it's power ❤

[Contrafidelis]

An absolute joy to my ears. Full of hope, inspiration and grandeur.

[jonhuse]

If I remember rightly, I believe I was once told that this was a special service in celebration of the Fire Brigade and that Latry's improvisation was based on the 'nee-naw' of a fire engine.

[michaelbell]

Yup....you can hear the Cavaille-Coll in it again after the Cochereau era.