“He is a virtuoso of world class standing... I’m astonished at his bravura; nothing fazes him... he plays it with such élan, and with such passion, such commitment... Absolutely phenomenal performance of "Ad nos, ad salutarem undam" - Chris de Souza reviewing this box set on BBC Radio 3's "CD Review"
"I doubt if there will be an organ contribution to the Liszt bicentennial which can better this" - Jeremy Nicholas - Gramophone
"King's approach tends to combine breadth and clarity with a sense of poise... Ad nos Fantasie and Fugue is entirely absorbing as he dashes off the fiery trumpet fanfares and charges through the allegro molto finale to the triumphant C major conclusion... King handles [the sonorous lines of the melodically inspired Orpheus] with true tenderness of feeling combined with excellent sense of the pacing of each melodic line within the context of the whole work.... beautifully presented and exceptionally recorded... a tour de force" - David Newsholme, International Record Review
LISZT THE ESSENTIAL ORGAN WORKS This 3 CD set contains all of the major original organ works of Liszt, together with a selection of virtuoso arrangements and transcriptions of Liszt’s orchestral and piano works by Camille Saint-Saëns, Max Reger, Edwin Lemare, Nicolas Kynaston, and Peter King. CD 1 (63:36) Prelude and Fugue on BACH (13:24) Orpheus (11:33) Funérailles – trans Nicolas Kynaston (12:14)Consolation IV (Adagio) in D flat (3:24)Legend of St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds – trans Camille Saint-Saëns (11:09)Legend of St Francis of Paula walking on the waves – trans Max Reger (11:50)
CD 2 Chapelle de Guillaume Tell – trans Peter King (6:37) Sposalizio – trans Edwin Lemare (8:25) Il Penseroso – trans Peter King (4:27) Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa – trans Peter King (3:24) Trauerode (8:18) Consolation VI (Tröstung) in E (2:40) Variations on Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (16:28)
CD 3 (54:06) Excelsior! (3:11) Ave Maria von Arcadelt (6:07) Evocation à la Chapelle Sixtine (13:50)Fantasia and Fugue on Ad nos, ad salutarem undam (30:56)
Total playing time: 168:03
Concertos for Organ & Orchestra Peter King - Organ BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by François-Xavier Roth
"A disc of real distinction... leaves the competition standing" Gramophone
Suite in G for Strings and Organ - Respighi Concerto in G minor for Organ, strings and timpani - Poulenc Concerto No 1 in F, Op 137, for Organ, strings and three horns - Rheinberger
Recently re-released, and "Editor's Choice" in both BBC Music Magazine and GramophoneNovember 2010
"...even reluctant converts are likely to be overwhelmed by this thrilling disc. The sound of the Bath Abbey Klais organ matches the life-affirming playing of Peter King. The whole recording is filled with a love of making music." Gramophone November 2010
"This disc presents three of the finest organ/orchestra collaborations in the repertoire.....The performances of all three works are outstanding; it would be difficult to imagine any better. Bathed in the fine acoustic of Bath Abbey, the strings and horns produce a lush, luminous, vibrant, clear, robust sound that is matched by the clarity, color, cohesion and brilliance of the superb Klais organ. The well-balanced and blended sonorities are skillfully reproduced by the recording techinicians. This recording is to be cherished for the beauty of the sound, the music and the exceptional performances by some of Great Britains' finest musicians." The American Organist September 2009
HOMAGE TO HANDEL played on the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey by Peter King
March on a Theme of Handel - Guilmant Variations uber ein Tema von Georg Friedrich Handel - Landmann Variations on "The Harmonious Blacksmith" - Karg-Elert Capriccio in F - Handel arr Karg-Elert The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel arr Maynard Five Pieces for a Musical Clock - Handel arr Spiegel Grand Choeur (All Handel) Guilmant Homage to Handel - Karg-Elert Handel in the Strand - Grainger arr King
"This disc ranks as an unexpected highlight... As one would expect Peter King plays with vigour and clarity and shows his command of the majestic Klais Organ... A dazzling expression of the performer's virtuosity... reflects the perfomer's formidable skill as an interpreter and communicator" - Organists' Review
"hugely imaginitive and brilliantly executed... King is on fire, despatching this difficult music with considerable elan... a perfect recital, to be returned to often" Choir and Organ
ORGAN LOLLIPOPS played on the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey by Peter King
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - JS Bach In a Monastery Garden - Ketelby Wedding Day at Troldhaugen - Grieg Lied - Wolstenholme A Trumpet Minuet - Hollins War March of the Priests - Mendelssohn Thirty-Two Feet and Eight Little Tails - Redmond, Cavenaugh and Weldon Toccata - Dubois Vienna March - Scotson Clark Bell Rondo - Morandi Andantino in D flat Moonlight and Roses - Lemare Solemn Melody - Walford Davies Gavotte in B flat - Arne Sortie in E flat - Lefebure-Wely
"Peter King takes advantage of the diverse musical styles, the organ's generous tonal palette, and his own fertile imagination to present a delicious variety of colors. His ample technical command and fine musicality render a highly delightful listening experience. This one will win friends for the organ!" American Organist
ROMANTIC ORGAN MUSIC played on the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey by Peter King
Prelude and Fugue on BACH - Franz Liszt Sonata vi in D minor - Felix Mendelssohn Choral ii in B minor - César Franck Elegiac Romance - John Ireland Fantasie iii on C op 157 - Camille Saint-Saëns Toccata in D minor op 59 v - Max Reger Fugue in D op 59 vi - Max Reger
MOZART Peter King plays Mozart on the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey
Fantasia in F minor, KV 608
Adagio in C, KV 356 (KV 617a)
Adagio and Allegro (Fantasia) in F minor and major, KV 594
Sonata in D minor for piano duet, KV 381 Allegro, Andante, Allegro vivace
Adagio in B minor
Adagio and Rondo in C minor and major, KV 617 Adagio, Rondo
Strahower Improvisation (Fantasia in G minor), KV 528a
Gigue in G (Leipziger Gigue), KV 574
Andante in F, KV 616
Adagio and Fugue in C minor, KV 546 Adagio, Fugue
Here we have immaculate playing, varying from joy and happiness to sadness, to anger. Delicate or bold, fiery or liquid, calm, patient or vigorous and vital, and all in such good measure and all with such a variety of touch. The Organ
BAROQUERY Peter King plays Baroque works on the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey
Toccata in D minor — Diderik Buxtehude
Chaconne in F minor — Johann Pachelbel
Chorale Fantasia — Diderik Buxtehude Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Concerto in B flat — Tomaso Albinoni transcribed Johann Gottfried Walther Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
Praeludium in E minor (Great) — Nicolaus Bruhns
Batalla de sexto tono — José Ximenes
Cornet Voluntary in A minor — John Blow
Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux (Veni Creator) — Nicolas de Grigny
Four Movements from Messe pour les Convents — François Couperin Recit de Trompette, Chromhorne en Taille, Dialogue sur la Voix Humaine, Elevation: Tierce en Taille
Prelude and Fugue in C — Johann Sebastian Bach
Buxtehude's Toccata opens with a flair that King catches perfectly... King's pacing has an ideal forward thrust... This is a great performance of a masterpiece... One of the highlights of this recital is the powerful Preludium by Nicolaus Bruhns... King has an extra measure of impact. Fanfare
FANTASIE Peter King plays German Romantic music on the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey
Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor — Max Reger Evocation à la Chapelle Sixtine — Ferenc Liszt Fantasie - Sonate xvii in B Opus 181 — Josef Rheinberger Fantasie, Intermezzo, Introduction und Fuge Chorale Prelude and Fugue "O Trauerigkeit, o Herzeleid" — Johannes Brahms Chorale Prelude "O Welt, ich muß dich lassen" Opus 122 xi — Johannes Brahms La Nuit — Sigfrid Karg-Elert (Trois Impressions) Opus 72 iii Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue of Bach — Max Reger“
Wonderful new recording… King makes all this so easy… Reger’s arrangement of Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue receives a performance worth every penny you spend on this disc” – The Organ
“A blistering performance of Liszt’s Evocation… King gives virtuoso performances” Roger Fisher, Organists’ Review
“King is master of the long paragraph… just as sensitive in the more rhapsodic works… he chooses gorgeous colours, of which there are plenty on this magnificent instrument” Choir &Organ
GREAT EUROPEAN ORGANS 51 Peter King plays the Klais Organ of Bath Abbey
