What the critics say...

BBC Proms - premiere of Judith Bingham's The Everlasting Crown, Royal Albert Hall, 17th July 2011

"But the piece that stands out from the premieres I heard this year is Judith Bingham's Eternal Crown, a 35-minute work for solo organ performed with extraordinary virtuosity by Stephen Farr in his BBC Proms recital on 17 July. Inspired by the stories behind seven famous stones, representing aspects of monarchy and power, it skilfully exploited the resources of the RAH's enormous instrument, and I found it spell-binding." Clare Stevens, Classical Music Magazine, 17 December 2011

"In a superb and serious organ-recital matinee by Stephen Farr, the chief work was the world premiere of The Everlasting Crown by Judith Bingham (b 1952). Her sensuous seven-movement composition explored notions of monarchy and was inspired by famous gemstones such as the Orlov diamond, the Russian spinel and St Edward's sapphire. Farr talked about needing "to have a stiff drink" before choosing which registrations to use for a sonically varied piece such as this. It is true to say that some of us need a stiff drink before attending any organ recital, though not on this occasion. The audience was small but warmly appreciative. Still, 35 minutes of organ music by a woman? Only the yeti is so rarely encountered." Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian, Sunday 24 July

"Before lending its considerable weight to the already overloaded textures of Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony, the Albert Hall organ got its own moment in the spotlight in an afternoon recital by Stephen Farr. The main work in his programme was the first performance of a substantial commission from Judith Bingham. The Everlasting Crown may sound like a title that a master of the queen's music might have come up with, but in fact Bingham's starting point for the seven movements of her work was a book about famous precious stones and the stories behind them, from Atahualpa's emerald, stolen by Pizarro, to the Koh-i-Noor diamond that is part of the crown jewels.

"Bingham's music is as picturesquely virtuoso as the subject matter might suggest, with just occasional moments, like the mysterious opening of the last movement in the very lowest register of the Albert Hall instrument, that create a genuinely original sound world. Before it Farr paid his respects to a couple of this year's musical anniversaries, with an arrangement of Liszt's piano prelude Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, and a performance of Litanies, by Jehan Alain, who was born 100 years ago, died at the age of 29 and was one of the most tantalising might-have-beens of 20th-century music. Farr made Litanies a wonderfully unprayerful prayer - muscular, angry almost." Andrew Clements, The Guardian, Monday 18 July

Sounds Thrilling - Stephen Farr plays the organ in Blackburn Cathedral
David Briggs Missa Pro Defunctis / Duruflé Suite Op. 5

"Missa Pro Defunctis was commissioned and premiered by Stephen Farr in 2004... thrilling it certainly is. If you enjoy the sonorities of Langlais and Durufle then you will enjoy this. The work is paired with an outstanding performance of Duruflé's splendid Suite Op.5. Farr explores the full tonal range of the Blackburn organ in this excellent recording. Sounds Thrilling is an accurate title."
Church Music Quarterly
"Most organ enthusiasts know David Briggs as one of today's finest organ virtuosos and improvisers, but this release proves beyond a doubt that he's also a great composer for that instrument as well. The symphony presented here was commissioned by the soloist on this disc, Stephen Farr...[Briggs'] seven movement Missa Pro Defunctis symphony is a masterpiece.
Very appropriately the disc is filled out with a magnificent rendition of Duruflé's ever popular "Suite, Op. 5." This release is entitled Sounds Thrilling and, if anything, that's an understatement, because, quite frankly, organ CDs don't get any better than this. The instrument is superb, the performances, exemplary and the sound, to die for!
Bob McQuiston (Tower Washington, DC)
This CD features the first recording of Briggs's new Symphony for Organ, commissioned by the performer Stephen Farr. The work is a hommage to Maurice Duruflé, inspired by the organ work begun by Duruflé as a Missa pro defunctis, the sketches for which later became the famous Requiem. Just as in the Requiem, Briggs's new work is built upon the plainsong for the Mass for the Dead. The result is a forty minute, seven movement work.
David Briggs's symphony is atmospheric and dramatic....Stephen Farr plays extremely well on the disc; the technical challenges of Briggs's work are brilliantly handled and he gives an astoundingly well controlled reading of the Duruflé. The Sicilienne is beautifully modest and atmospheric....This is worth buying, both for Farr's playing, and because you should judge David Briggs's new symphony for yourself. I am sure it will find many admirers.
Chris Bragg. The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
Once again, recordings reviewed this month have a personal connection. I was with Lance Andrews (who is Lammas Records) in York during the preparation of this disc, to which the adjective thrilling applies accurately, and 1 have been eagerly awaiting its release. Here we have two large works, one by Duruflé and one inspired by his work.
The Symphony "Missa pro defunctis "was commissioned from the brilliant young British composer David Briggs by Stephen Farr... I find the style consistently compelling, even as it shifts from understated to pleno and from rich tone clusters to engaging cantabile. This 2003 composition should become one of the major virtuoso vehicles of our concert programs.
The companion work is the deservedly familiar Suite, Op.5, of Duruflé Here, as in the Symphony, Farr demonstrates not only a transcendental technique, but an extraordinary affinity for the French style of the period.
The liner includes Farr's own notes, a biography, and extended details about the organ (including the role in its history played by our AAM colleague John Bertalot). Lance Andrews has done an exceptional job of managing the enormous dynamic range with consummate clarity. This recording is simply not to be missed by anyone who loves the idiom.
Victor Hill, Ph.D.
The organ at Blackburn Cathedral was restored and enlarged at the start of the new millennium and the Lammas team obviously like what they hear as this is the fourth recording they have made that uses the instrument. Sound quality is excellent, the organ seems to be a splendid beast and organ buffs may want to hear this recording to judge for themselves. As for content Stephen Farr chose two associated works. The longer of the two is a "Missa Pro Defunctis" commissioned by him from David Briggs. The work is inspired by the composer's conception of a lost work by Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986), an organ suite he was working on when commissioned to write his Requiem. In form and style it is more homage than pastiche. This new piece is accompanied by a work by Duruflé himself: a "Suite" (Opus 5). If you like Duruflé then I need say little more. The playing is excellent...
crossrhythms.co.uk

John Stainer Crucifixion with choir of Clare College Cambridge, directed by Timothy Brown

For the rest the performers do Stainer proud. Stephen Farr plays the organ part splendidly and the choral singing is alert, responsive and a pleasure to hear... Read the Musicweb International review >

Langlais Organ Works

"Stephen Farr ... is one of the brightest and most active English recitalists, and he plays with immaculate finish and buoyancy, as well as with a relish for this organ's many colours" (5 stars) (Classic CD)

"Farr's playing is always alert to the textural nuances and timing in Langlais's scores, and his reading of the Cinq meditations sur l'apocalypse is thoroughly enthralling" (5 stars) (BBC Music Magazine)

"The finale (La Cinquième Trompette) is wide ranging emotionally and is given a brilliantly judged performance, of stunning virtuosity, vivid colour, and quite exceptional clarity. This is a disc which every organist should hear...The recording is superb" (Organists Review)

Fiat Lux

"When Stephen Farr makes a recording one's expectations are high; the playing on this disc fully upholds his reputation as one of our finest players...In every way this disc is well worth acquiring and deserves to be heard beyond our shores" (Organists Review)

Jehan Alain Organ Works, Meridian CDE84282

"The combination of organ, Stephen Farr's playing and Alain's imaginative music proves to be irresistible. Alain's rhythmic patterns sometimes equal or even exceed Messiaen's in complexity, but Stephen Farr seems equal to any and every demand that the music makes upon him...Definitely a disc to treasure" (Organists Review)

Organ concertos (Stanley, Bach, Hayes, Hook) with London Bach Consort

"beautifully played by Mr Farr and the London Bach Consort...do add this CD to your collection" (The American Organist)

"This is a delight...The performances are uniformly excellent and can be warmly commended" (Organists Review)

Walther Organ Works, Meridian CDE84213

"These superbly crafted, invigorating performances, combining youthful vigour and enthusiasm with profound musical insight and technical fluency, offer a persuasive and compelling case for Johann Gottfried Walther's music...Farr displays an intelligent awareness of style, shaping the chorale lines naturally and depending on touch rather than intricacies of registration to portray the musical strands...With Stephen Farr's impressive articulation and obvious sense of fun, these concertos come vibrantly alive" (Gramophone)