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Wayne Marshall

Sun / Feb 23, 2020 - 7:30PM

The British organist’s improvised tributes to Bernstein and Beethoven will amaze.

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About this Performance

British-born Wayne Marshall is a triple threat, appearing around the world as an organist, pianist, and conductor. His abilities in jazz as well as classical music make him particularly well suited for the glittering improvisations on Bernstein and Beethoven that will bookend his Disney Hall recital. “…sheer technical bravado… breathtaking speeds…stunning virtuosity…such brilliant playing.” (Gramophone)

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The Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ

Architect Frank Gehry devoted a great deal of time to the design. He worked with Los Angeles organ designer and builder Manuel J. Rosales to create something different from a typical church organ with its rows and rows of metal tubes. Gehry’s initial designs included pipes hanging from the ceiling and the organist in a cage halfway up the wall. Rosales found the concepts fanciful and marvelous, but he knew there was no way they would lead to the construction of a practical musical instrument.

Eventually, Gehry presented a concept that looked like a cluster of flowers shooting out of the ground. Rosales found this design wonderful and agreed that it was something they could pursue. Rosales recommended European organ builder Casper von Glatter-Götz to fabricate and install the many complex components. What we see today is the dramatically splayed composition of beams which Gehry refers to as “French fries.” (And they are certainly Super-Sized!)

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Artist Frank Gehry and organ builder Manuel Rosales collaborated on the visual design of the organ.