XAVER VARNUS PLAYS BACH'S TOCCATA & FUGUE IN THE BERLINER DOM

•●The Official Video Site of Concert Organist Xaver Varnus●•

Xaver Varnus plays Toccata and Fugue in D minor (edited by Mendelssohn) on the great Sauer Organ of the Berliner Dom. Recorded live on the Opening Night of the "Berliner Internationaler Orgelsommer 2013".

At the time of its dedication in 1905, the great Sauer Organ of the Berliner Dom was the largest in Germany, with its 7269 pipes and 113 registers, distributed across four manuals and pedals. The court organ builder Wilhelm Sauer, from Frankfurt on the Oder, created an instrument that embodied the newest technical and musical developments of German organ building at the time. In that way, the organ met the high expectations of both the organ builder and his client: in the Protestant Cathedral of the capital city, there was to be a monumental, modern, and in every way extraordinary instrument of the highest quality. The organ of the Cathedral of Berlin represents the highpoint of Sauer’s career. At the same time, it marks the end of the long development of Romantic orchestral organs, whose sound corresponds to the characteristic sound of a symphonic orchestra of that period. Today, the organ in the Cathedral of Berlin is the largest late-Romantic pneumatic action organ in the world that has survived in its original condition.

•●The Official Video Site of Concert Organist Xaver Varnus●•

Xaver Varnus' first piano teacher was Emma Németh, one of the last pupils of Debussy. He has played virtually every important organ in the world, including those in Bach's Thomaskirche in Leipzig (2014), Berliner Dom (2013), Notre-Dame (1981), Saint-Sulpice (2006) and Saint-Eustache (1996) in Paris, National Shrine in Washington, D.C. (1985), and Canterbury Cathedral (2004), as well as the largest existing instrument in the world, the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia (1985). His Quadruple Platinum Disc winning album "From Ravel to Vangelis" (SONY, 2007), is the best-selling organ CD ever. As a Canadian citizen, Xaver Varnus resides in Berlin, and in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia Peninsula, where he opened Varnus Hall in a 19th century church. "Put simply, Varnus is a monster talent, every bit as stimulating and individual as the late Glenn Gould" (The Globe & Mail, Canada's National Newspaper). "He is one of the most influential figure in organ music in the early twenty-first century." (Mark Wigmore, The New Classical FM, Canada).

Booking & Enquiries:

[RandomDuude]

"I play a guitar"
"I PLAY A BUILDING"

[Ladco]

It's nice to see an organist who understands they are not only playing the organ, but the entire building. His timing as the sound decays across the auditorium is impeccable.

[muppit]

We were working in Rochester Cathedral during the renovation of their organ, and on completion of the renovation, I asked the head organist to play me a request. We don’t play roll over Beethoven in the cathedral he said. But when I said wanted Bachs Toccata and Fugue in D minor he looked a bit shocked. (I’m a 6’3” long haired biker). The following day we were up on the scaffold working away when that very distinct intro started and I quickly told the lads to stop what they were doing and listen. It was definitely a hair on the back of the neck and arms raising moment. Sounded brilliant and even the lads working with me had to agree that it was pretty good. A wonderful memory of what is one of my favourite tunes of all time.

[McCaileanMcNaughty]

You know a piece is played so good when:
- Goosebumps
- Wet eyes
- Big smile

[ImpendingJoker]

Let us take a moment to recognize that this beast of an organist not only played the whole thing flawlessly but he did so, without sheet music in front of him. Press 'X' to pay respects.

[TheScoobyMix]

300 year old Heavy Metal. Bach was way ahead of the time.

[diras]

This masterpiece is meant to be played like that, taking in account the reverberation and acoustics of the place, every pause meant to make the notes be "felt" by the audience, rather than only listening to it, the tempo was superb, and indeed as someone else said, a masterpiece of this caliber, you just don't applaud like a fool at the end, you let the music fill you, shake you to the core, you experience it, and be be glad to the God Almighty who put Bach in this terrenal place to giving us a glimpse of the greatness that humanity can achieve

[Swecan]

There is no greater instrument ever conceived and built than the pipe organ. Hundreds of pipes, some over 60 feet in length, it's an entire orchestra in one instrument. There is also no greater music than classical music. The complexities and sheer magnificence.

[mongo]

Can't imagine how wonderful it must have been to sit in that Cathedral and literally "FEEL" the music wash over you!

[macDaddy]

You dont even clap after hearing something like this in person. You just sit and thank god that your alive to hear and feel something so grand and majestic

[gospelofrye]

I have a friend who is a firefighter. He attended a (false) alarm at a church here in Australia, and managed to convince them, after the alarm was cleared, to let him have a go on their organ. He sat up there, in full firefighter gear... and played Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

[TheHeartlessAlchemist]

Bach has died 273 years ago, but he was such an amazing genius that the music he composed is still remembered and revered to this day. And Xaver is such an incredible organ player. His interpretation of Toccata & Fugue is absolutely beautiful and awe inspiring. I love classic music!

[TheMrFarkle]

Unusually clean and intelligible performance, not the usual "see how rapidly I can play".

[knutholt]

The organist plays in a way that fully utilizes the resonance in the room. This includes the long pauses which still are filled with sound.

[paulcannell]

i marvel at the brain that composed this and the brain that memorised it to play with such beautiful texture. humanity is capable of divinity.

[lauralake]

We are all blessed that this magnificent instrument survived two wars. It is a beautiful thing. May it always play in peace.

[samuelcrandall]

Can we just take a minute to appreciate how cool the name "Xaver Varnus" sounds.

[juliomunoz]

"He had no notes to read, I have no words to say." (No, I don't mean I'm impressed that he had no sheets, I'm just expressing my awe of his performance!)

[MuhanuziMpesha]

He knows the music intimately. It is in his blood. Brilliant performance. Flawless.

[erwansilvain]

he manages to not only remember toccata but the entire fugue which is very long for a memory only play