After the Grand Masters...
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Among the great masters, only Jean GUILLOU and Pierre LABRIC, are still alive today. Pierre LABRIC (87 years old in 2008) is now in a retirement home after a 40-year career at the organ of Saint-Ouen in Rouen. Jeanne DEMESSIEUX died in 1968, Marcel DUPRE in 1971, Jean-Jacques GRUNENWALD in 1982, Pierre COCHEREAU in 1984, Jean LANGLAIS in 1991, and Olivier MESSIAEN in 1992, Rolande FALCINELLI died in June 2006, Jean BONFILS in november 2007
see the website on Jean Guillou : clic here
Several organists, however, seem perfectly worthy to take up their work. I refer to Vincent Crosnier, the inequalled Arnaud de Beauregard, Livia Mazzanti, Francesco Finotti, Leonid Karev , Yanka Hekimova. All are exceptional organists and all, strangely, express the distinctive influence of Jean Guillou's teaching.
Then come to mind the names of Maxime Patel and Nicolas Pien, who worked with Pierre Labric: both phenomenal ! I believe that Maxime Patel is the only organist able of playing, with stupefying ease, all the works of Jeanne Demessieux . These eight artists are worthy of carrying on the great tradition of the organ.
the fantastic Pierre Cochereau at Notre-Dame cathedral - 1955
playing the Cavaillé-Coll console
Louis Vierne at Notre Dame cathedral
Jean-Jacques GRUNENWALD at the console of Saint-Sulpice.
I worked for him for several years until his death.
I spent 10 years to work on this organ, until I desagree with the last restoration.
Rolande Falcinelli
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augure-autourdejeanguillou.org
Bellow, two of my friends. Personaly, I think you should invite one of them to play concerts, you will not be disappointed !! Both, they are the succession of the great masters....
Arnaud recording the Chant d'Oiseau in Bruxelles
Arnaud is one of the best organists I ever heard
Here on this picture, playing the Kleuker organ of Notre Dame du Chant d'Oiseau - Bruxelles
Livia MAZZANTI is an exceptional organist !!!
She is my favorite woman organist
Vincent Crosnier (assistant organist at St-Eustache, Paris)
Vincent is a fantastic improviser and one of the best organists I know
EACH TIME I hear Vincent Crosnier playing organ, this is a real amazing moment.
With Arnaud de Beauregard, both they are obviously among the very best french organists.
2008 during the Messiaen's centenary, I met lot of musicians and I was very happy to welcome Christian Bischof from Germany
