Gail Archer is commemorating the 200th birthday of Franz Liszt (1811–1886). Supplementing her latest album release, Franz Liszt, A Hungarian Rhapsody (Meyer Media), Archer is performing Liszt’s organ works in three concerts held in various New York City churches: the series begins February 6 at the Church of St. Jean Baptiste, and continues: March 13 at West End Collegiate Church, and April 8 at Church of Heavenly Rest.
Repertoire includes three extended works—Ad nos ad salutarem undam, Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H, and Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, in addition to a number of works based on choral pieces, Saint Elizabeth, Evocation of the Sistine Chapel, Offertorium from the Hungarian Coronation Mass, or instrumental symphonies and tone poems, Dante and Orpheus.
Archer has performed composer-centric concert series for the past four consecutive years. In 2010 she toured in honor of Bach’s 325th birthday celebration, preceded by her 2009 worldwide tour of Felix Mendelssohn works. During the 2007–2008 season she presented Olivier Messiaen–A Mystic in the Making.
Gail Archer holds a DMA in organ performance from the Manhattan School of Music and earned an artist diploma from the Boston Conservatory. An active recitalist in both the United States and Europe, she was recently featured at the Dresden Musicfestspiel. Her latest album, Bach the Transcendent Genius, was released in February 2010 (recorded on a Fritts organ at Vassar College). She lives in New York City and is college organist at Vassar College and director of the music program at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she directs the university choirs.
For information: www.gailarcher.com.
(photo credit: Buck Ennis)
