On Friday Nov. 18, the Skyes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values will be hosting two very special concerts.
Olivier Latry, who is an organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, will be performing at UT as part of the Concert Artist Series at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The concert is free to the public, but a large crowd is expected and seating is limited. Doors will open 30 minutes in advance.
Latry began playing at a small Cathedral in the province at the age of 12 and began at the Notre Dame in 1990 and the age of 22.
According to an article on ut.edu, Latry has the Performer of the Year Award of the American Guild of Organists. He received an honorary doctor of music degree from McGill University, and an honorary fellowship from the Royal College of Organists and he teaches at the Paris Conservatory. He taught at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Fall 2010.
“The phenomenon of the titular organist of a French Cathedral is a striking one. These artists are paid by the French government for their positions and the organs themselves, as historical moments, are also in the domain of the government. To have such a post is a great national honor as well as a musical one,” explains Dr. Haig Mardirosian, the Dean of the College of Arts and letters.
“It is rare when we have the opportunity to have with us, live and up close, any individual who is universally considered as one of the top one or two at whatever they do globally. That opportunity arose here, of course, by having the facility and the instrument in Sykes Chapel. It is a demonstration of the importance of this organ that we can bring with confidence, an artist like Latry, who plays at one of the pinnacle places in the profession.” Mardirosian continued.
At the end of his performance, Latry will be showcasing his talent by performing a work based off of an external theme that will be given to him at the concert.
“He will not see the theme until we hand it to him on the spot, right on the stage. We will have two themes to use at each concert, and they will be different. Few individuals dare to apply this skill in formal concert settings. It is the ultimate high wire without a net.”
The two concerts done by Notre Dame organist, Olivier Latry are part of the Concert Artists Series sponsored by the College of Arts and letters and the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values.
Shivani Kanji can be reached at minaret.news@gmail.com.