The International Organ Festival Haarlem (the Netherlands) takes place July 12–26; this will be the 50th edition since its foundation in 1951. Events include an anniversary recital on July 15 by Ton Koopman and Olivier Latry, with a program from Bach to Messiaen’s L’Ascension, and recitals and presentations by Masaaki Suzuki, Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, and Bernard Haas, whose recital will include the world premiere of These livid flames, commissioned from French composer Hugues Dufourt.
Contestants have been selected for the 50th Improvisation Competition (July 14–18): Jacob Lekkerkerker, Geerten Liefting, and Harmen Trimp (the Netherlands), David Cassan (France), Lukas Grimm and Tobias Wittmann (Germany), Morten Ladehoff (Denmark), and Luke Mayernik (United States). On July 14, contestants will improvise on the 18th-century Müller organ in St. Bavo’s, on a theme by Austrian organist Hans Haselböck (one of five winners in 1958–1960). On July 16, all competitors will improvise on the romantic Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Philharmonie concert hall, on material by Dutch composer Roderik de Man and sound and video artist Marcel Wierckx. Louis Andriessen will provide the theme for the three finalists on July 18 in St. Bavo’s.
For information: www.organfestival.nl.
