International Organ Series | Final Concert

27 September, 2024, | Scots’ Church, Melbourne, VIC

The final concert of this year’s International Organ Series at The Scots’ Church in Melbourne, which is held across the month of September each year, was dedicated to organist Lachlan Redd who was scheduled to perform before his untimely death earlier this year.

In his place we heard the full forces of the Choir of The Scots’ Church – impressive, with over 30 voices of all ages – with organist Jennifer Chou, all under the watchful direction of Conductor Douglas Lawrence, who presented a program of sacred choral works interspersed by works for pedal piano by Robert Schumann played on the organ.

The Choir of The Scots’ Church sings at an impressive standard, aided by the acoustic as well as the leadership of Douglas Lawrence. Most of the works presented were in a contemplative vein, including those we associate with evensong, meant for the end of the day. 

These included the Nunc Dimittis of Gustav Holst, no doubt a nod to this being the 150 year anniversary of his birth, and Like a hart desireth the waterbrook by Herbert Howells and O Sacrum Convivium by Messiaen.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace by Samuel Wesley was particularly poignant given the dedication of the concert, and all were sung with a great sense of occasion and dignity. The blend of voices, which is an artform in itself, puts this choir ‘up there’ at an international standard.

Jennifer Chou delighted us in the Schumann with the colour and clarity of her playing, making even the hardest works, in the hardest keys, sound playful during solo works and when accompanying the choir. Jennifer especially delighted us with the trumpet stop statements in the Magnificat by Michael Tippett. I’m guessing the Magnificat is one of his later works given the discordant and angular writing. It certainly provided great contrast to the rest of the program. 

Ending with the Messiaen and glorious Coronation Gloria by Charles Villiers Stanford seemed a fitting way to conclude the concert, to farewell the International Organ Series for another year and as musical tribute to Lachlan Redd. 

The September International Organ Series which is produced and supported by The Scots’ Church under the direction of Douglas Lawrence AM, which is free to attend, is an important platform for organ and keyboard performers. It’s already in my diary for 2025. Hope to see you there!