Bath Abbey
Pairing works by three pillars of the French classical baroque with the great German composer, Latry’s glorious playing finished with dazzling improvisation

Notre Dame’s organist Olivier Latry, long pre-eminent among French musicians, has become more widely known since the 2019 fire miraculously missed destroying the cathedral organ. His recital at Bath Abbey on the recently refurbished Klais organ constituted a starry opening to this year’s BachFest.

Artistic director Amelia Freedman’s programming has always put music JS Bach himself would have known alongside that of the great man and, here, Latry played three works from earlier baroque composers who were pillars of the French classical organ tradition. Louis Marchand’s Grand Dialogue alternated grandeur with contemplative sections, with the lyrical flow of François Couperin’s Tierce en taille then offering a complete contrast.