Thursday 26 March 2015

Samuel Kummer à Saint-Louis pour le carême

Orgue Organ Cathédrale Saint Louis Versailles
Last Sunday a Lent organ concert was held in Saint-Louis cathedral. The cathedral's great organ was commissioned by Louis XV in 1759 and executed by Louis-Alexandre and François-Henri Clicquot. 12x10 metres (39.37x38.8 ft), it weighs 53 tonnes (116845lb) and has 3131 tubes (VDP had shown it to you before)! It is a wondrous joy to listen to, especially as the guest star of the concert was Samuel Kummer, chief organist of the famous Frauenkirche in Dresden (Germany), who marvellously played four hands with his wife, Irena Renata. VDP isn't a great Camille Saint-Saëns fan so patiently sat through his Carnival of the Animals (admittedly masterfully interpreted) before thoroughly enjoying some Johann-Sebastian Bach, whose 330rd birthday (plus one day) was thus celebrated in Versailles! The concert gave VDP an opportunity to take a few detailed shots of the splendid organ... To listen to Bach interpreted by S. Kummer in his church of Dresden, click here.

Dimanche dernier, le concert d'orgue de carême avait lieu en la cathédrale Saint-Louis. Le grand orgue (que VDP vous avait déjà montré) fut commandé par Louis XV en 1759 et exécuté par Louis-Alexandre et François-Henri Clicquot. Il mesure 10 x 12 mètres, pèse 53 tonnes et compte 3131 tuyaux répartis en 46 jeux sur 3 claviers et pédalier. C'est un grand bonheur de pouvoir l'entendre résonner, surtout que dimanche, l'organiste invité n'était autre que Samuel Kummer, l'organiste titulaire de la célèbre Frauenkirche de Dresde qui joua à quatre mains avec son épouse, Irena Renata. VDP n'est pas une énorme fan de Camille Saint-Saëns et attendit donc patiemment durant son carnaval des animaux pourtant magistralement interprété, pour pouvoir pleinement apprécier Jean-Sébastien Bach, célébrant ainsi à Versailles avec un jour de retard le 330ème anniversaire de naissance du compositeur. Le concert fut l'occasion de prendre en photo quelques détails de l'orgue... Pour écouter S. Kummer interpréter du Bach en l'église de Dresde, cliquez ici.
Orgue Organ Cathédrale Saint Louis Versailles
Orgue Organ Cathédrale Saint Louis Versailles
Orgue Organ Cathédrale Saint Louis Versailles
Orgue Organ Cathédrale Saint Louis Versailles
And finally, a not so good picture of Samuel and Irena Renata Kummer!

Et pour finir, une photo un peu ratée de Samuel et Irena Renata Kummer !
Orgue Organ Samuel Kummer Versailles

21 comments:

William Kendall said...

What a magnificent organ!

Unknown said...

Wonderful stuff, what a magnificent piece of work that organ is. I'll bet the sound quality was amazing...

RedPat said...

Functional and so beautiful at the same time!

Michelle said...

That is a fantastic organ. And, such a piece of art.

Lois said...

It is absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing the link to the video too. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it!

Kay said...

What an extraordinary instrument and how nice is must have been to hear it played so masterfully. I love the details you've shown. It's simply gorgeous!

Randy said...

Nice shots. I don't think I would stand too close to those pipes when the music starts.

Thérèse said...

53 tonnes, de quoi être étonnés par le poids d'un orgue!

Dina said...

Merci for these amazing pictures and facts.
Experiencing an organ concert in a cathedral you understand why the ceiling is so high--it's because your soul soars!

Halcyon said...

What a beautiful instrument! I want to take a trip to Erfurt and surroundings to see Bach's homeground.

Bergson said...

parfait nous avons l'image et le son

Karl said...

Was für eine wundervolle Orgel !

Anonymous said...

Wow, very impressive!

EG CameraGirl said...

The organ is a stunner!

Birdman said...

Oh Lent! I shudder. I'm not ever giving up candy and swearing again.

Sharon said...

That must have been a spectacular event. Beautiful shots of the organ.

VP said...

An impressive instrument, so well photographed!

Wayne said...

What a magnificent work of art. It's gorgeous to look at and I can just imagine the sound.

Anonymous said...

C'est un instrument magnifique dans un lieu superbe ... ils vont bien ensemble

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh la! Super detailed shots Ciel.. It's blooming brilliant to be able to see these wonderful details without getting on an aeroplane.

Kate said...

Oh my! The facade of the organ is nothing short of amazing. I reentry heard an organ concert in a Cathedral and it is wondrous. This one must have been magnificent.