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

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

Langlais Organ Works

Fiat Lux

Jehan Alain Organ Works, Meridian CDE84282

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

Walther Organ Works, Meridian CDE84213