Sarasota News Leader

01/11/2013

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Sarasota News Leader January 11, 2013 Page 94 RENOWNED ORGANIST TO PERFORM VIERNE'S SYMPHONIES Nationally celebrated organist Christopher Houlihan will make a special appearance in Sarasota at the Church of the Redeemer on Sunday, Jan. 20, to perform six organ symphonies by Louis Vierne, the blind composer who was the organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame from 1900 to 1937, Redeemer has announced. Houlihan performed these same symphonies in six major cities across the U.S. and Canada throughout 2012, a news release notes. His concerts have been hailed as "dazzling" (Wall St. Journal) and as giving a "glamorous sheen" to Vierne's music (New York Times). Houlihan performed the symphonies in prominent venues in New York, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Montreal, the release notes. The tour marked the 75th anniversary of the death of Vierne, who collapsed and died while performing at the organ in Notre Dame in 1937. "Houlihan's appearance in Sarasota is a major coup for the area and is the result of impassioned lobbying" by Redeemer choirmaster/organist Ann Stephenson-Moe, who approached his agent last year, the release points out. 
 Organist Christopher Houlihan/Contributed photo this very special six-symphony performance. Sarasota is in for an outstanding, world-class concert."
 The six Vierne symphonies to be performed are Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Opus 14 (composed in 1895); Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Opus 20 (composed in 1901); Symphony No. 3 in F-sharp minor, Opus 28 (composed in 1911); Symphony No. 4 in G minor, Opus 32 (composed in 1914); Symphony No. "Sarasota has always had and continues to 5 in A minor, Opus 47 (composed 1923-24); attract some of the most sophisticated con- and Symphony No. 5 in B minor, Opus 59 cert-goers in the country — in the world, ac- (composed 1930). tually," said Stephenson-Moe in the release. Houlihan will play on Redeemer's massive 50"I simply explained [to Houlihan's agent] that stop Nichols & Simpson pipe organ, the reSarasota is the brightest jewel of Florida's cullease points out.
 tural coast, with audiences who would deeply appreciate Vierne's music and Houlihan's The concert, which will begin at 3:30 p.m., playing. With Sarasota's growing reputation, it will be presented in two parts, with an interdidn't take much to convince him to add this mission at approximately 5:15 p.m., allowing seventh concert to the North American tour of the audience to enjoy an early dinner at any

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