Thomas Heywood | Grand Organ Recital

20 June 2025, Melbourne Town Hall, VIC

The first organ arrived in Australia on a convict ship and was delivered to Van Dieman’s Land, or as we know it now, Lutruwita/Tasmania in 1825. Its arrival is cause for celebration both then and now and this 200 year anniversary was the theme for Thomas Heywood’s packed out recital on the Grand Organ of the Melbourne Town Hall. 

When I say packed out, it was a full house, made up of enthusiastic fans who lapped up the big program of Heywood’s legendary transcriptions and back-to-back party pieces, enhanced by a large screen and close up cameras showing views from above and of the pedalboard. 

Popular favourites included the clap-along Radetzky March (Op. 228) by Strauss, three of the Hungarian Dances of Brahms, Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise in A-flat major (Op. 53), and Smetana’s Dance of the Comedians, all transcribed for organ by the performer and delivered with equal measures of flair and fun. 

Part of the magic was definitely the way the registrations changed fluidly by an extra pair of hands at the organ, which belonged to Simone Heywood, wife of Thomas. Given the number and speed of the changes, Thomas was right to sound Simone’s praises at the end of the concert. 

It was a treat to hear a medley of Bizet’s Carmen, aptly named Carmen Fantasia, again transcribed by Heywood. All the top tunes from the opera squeezed into a frolicking 20 mins, and using a wide range of stops including tubas, flutes, and clarinets. Just as cutesy was Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, using the glockenspiel and harp stops, and Rossini’s rollicking Finale from the Overture to William Tell. 

For the serious organ aficionados there was Edwin Lemare’s Concert Fantasia upon The Sailors Hornpipe, British Grenadiers and Rule, Britannia!, and the 1st movement of Théodore-César Salomé’s Sonata No. 1 in C minor for Grand Organ, Op. 25. 

In addition to Heywood’s flawless delivery, we were treated to historical facts and insights. One such tidbit was Ave Tasmania! a poem written in honour of the delivery of that first instrument – well worth a read:  linked here>>

Thomas Heywood is a consummate entertainer. His energy and presentation were matched by his choice of program and performance, and very well suited to the grandeur of the Grand Organ. I think everyone present got their money’s worth, even if it was a free event thanks to the City of Melbourne’s commitment to keeping arts and culture alive, which hopefully they will continue to do for another 200 years!