A leading organist, a world-famous grand organ, an upgraded concert hall, a conductor expert in the repertoire and an orchestra bursting with brilliance. This is the formula for this evening’s sensational concert, Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra, led by associate Concertmaster Harry Bennetts is joined by Olivier Latry, the titular organist at the Notre-Dame in Paris with French conductor Stéphane Denève. Preceding Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 is the vividly different Concerto in G minor for organ, strings and timpani by Poulenc and Flammenschrift by contemporary French composer Guillaume Connesson, receiving its Australian premiere.  

Olivier Latry and the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Grand Organ. Photo © Jay Patel

The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall grand organ which Latry plays tonight is the world’s largest mechanical action instrument. It has 5 manuals (keyboards), 10,154 pipes, 200 pipe ranks and 131 speaking stops with electrical stop action.

Latry brings with him decades of expertise and virtuoso performance. For the touring organist, no two instruments are alike. However, digital technology has enabled the advance preparation of the instrument and Latry has had a team...