N.P. Mander Organ Recital: Simon Johnson

N.P. Mander Organ Recital
Simon Johnson, organ

The magnificent pipe organ at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola--at 5,000 pipes, 30 tons, 45 feet high, with 55,000 parts, four keyboards, 5,000 pipes and 68 different stops—is the largest tracker-action pipe organ in the New York metropolitan area. At a cost of $1.25 million in 1992, its creation by the English organ builder N.P. Mander involved a year of planning and construction in England, and a five-month on-site installation at St. Ignatius Loyola. The N.P. Mander Organ debuted to an audience of 1,800 with a recital by organist David Higgs on April 27, 1993. 

All N.P. Mander Organ Recitals feature large-screen projection so that the audience may see the organist at work. 

PROGRAM

J.S. Bach:  Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543

From the Orgelbüchlein / Orgelbüchlein Project:
     Wohl dem, der in Gottes Furcht steht  Simon Johnson 
     Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, BWV 633  J.S. Bach
     Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 642  J.S. Bach
     Nun ruhen alle Wälder  Jacques van Oortmerssen 

Jean Langlais: from Cinq Méditations sur l’Apocalypse:
     5. La Cinquième Trompette

César Franck: Choral No. 1 in E Major

INTERMISSON

Edward Elgar: Sonata in G Major, Op. 28
     Allegro maestoso
     Allegretto
     Andante espressivo
     Presto (comodo)

Simon Johnson, Organist and Assistant Music Director of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral was appointed to his post in 2008. Since that time Johnson has had the honor of playing for the daily round of services as well as historical national services and events. Chief among the notable services for which he has played was the National Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as well as the National Service of Thanksgiving to make the 90^th Birthday of the Queen, both events with world-wide television coverage. He also performed in the presence of Holiness the Dalai Lama and numerous dignitaries of the Church of England and of the State for the presentation of the Templeton Prize.

Recipient of a BA (first-class honors) from the University of East Anglia, he also received there the Britten/Pears Scholarship. Continuing his education at the Royal College of Organists, he was awarded his diploma in 2001 along with the Baker, Harding and Durrant prizes.

Simon Johnson began his music career as Head Chorister of the Peterborough Cathedral Choir. He then held organ scholarships at Rochester, Norwich and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, following which he became the Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Northampton. From there he went to St. Albans Cathedral as the Assistant Master of Music and Director of the Abbey Girls’ Choir, his last appointment before assuming the duties as Organist at St. Paul’s, London.  

Apart from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Mr. Johnson has performed as soloist and continuo player with premier British orchestras in including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, the City of London Sinfonia, the London Baroque and the Cardinall’s Musick. His wide- ranging music making also included playing the organ on the soundtrack for the Hollywood blockbuster move the Grand Budapest Hotel, the soundtrack of which won an Oscar and a Grammy award in the U.S. and a Bafta award in the U.K.

Simon Johnson has had an extensive European recital career with recent venues that included Cologne Cathedral, Freiburg Cathedral, Weingarten Abbey, St. Florian Church with the organ of Bruckner, the Turku and Espoo Cathedrals in Finland, Himmerod Abbey, in Germany, Vasteras Cathedral in Sweden, and Palma de Mallorca Cathedral. Closer to home he played concerts at the Westminster Cathedral in London, Truro Cathedral, York Minster, Beverly Minster, Merton College, Oxford, and Westminster Central Hall. Most recently he played recitals in the USA at Trinity Episcopal, Tulsa, Baylor University, First Presbyterian, Laurel, MS, St. Mark’s Cathedral, Shreveport for the East Texas Pipe Organ Festival. St. James’ Church, Los Angeles, CA, St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego, CA, and the First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach Florida.

For more information, sound clips, and updated concert information, visit http://www.simonjohnsonmusician.com/.

All performance dates, artists and programs subject to change. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

GENERAL CONCERT AND TICKET INFORMATION

• DOORS OPEN at 2:30 PM for a 3 PM concert start time.


• LATE SEATING is at the discretion of the House Management. Latecomers may be asked to remain in the back of the church until there is a break in the program, so as not to disturb the performance or other audience members.


• WILL CALL is available when the doors open at 2:30 PM inside the main doors of the church.


• CHILDREN seated on an adult's lap do not need a ticket. Children seated in a chair or pew need a ticket. 


• We no longer offer tickets for sale or any ticket pickup at the Parish House Reception desk.


• Audio and/or video recording and flash photography are not permitted during performances.

ACCESSIBILITY

• The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola is wheelchair/walker accessible via the ramp entrance on 84th Street (between Park and Madison Avenues).


• The restrooms are NOT easily accessible by wheelchair. The most easily accessible restrooms are in the Parish House (980 Park Avenue). There are two steps down from the street level into the Parish House and there is a restroom on that ground floor.


• For reserved seating concerts, there is available seating for wheelchairs and companions. Please look for the Wheelchair and Wheelchair Companion tickets when purchasing. For general seating concerts, follow the directions of the ushers. Please call ahead (212-288-2520) to discuss any special seating requirements.

PARKING

• Street parking can be difficult to find, but there are a number of parking garages nearby. There are garages on 83rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues) and 84th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues), as well as near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

RESTAURANTS

• There are a number of fine and casual eating establishments located nearby on Madison Avenue (one block west of the church), Lexington Avenue (one block east of the church), Third Avenue (two blocks east of the church) and Second Avenue (three blocks east of the church).

 DIRECTIONS

• The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola is easily reached via the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines (86th Street station), or buses on Madison, Lexington and Fifth Avenues, and on 86th Street.