An act of solidarity with the victims
The Poblet monastery will become a scene of compassion and hope this Saturday, November 9 at 8:45 p.m. As part of the X International Organ Festival, a charity concert dedicated to the people affected by the recent floods caused by the dam will be held. Funds raised, along with donations from attendees, will go towards helping those who have suffered the consequences of this tragedy through Caritas.
A captivating musical program
The German organist Martin Sturm has designed an exceptional musical program for this occasion. Entitled ‘Idyll and Hell’, the concert will include works by masters from different eras, such as Kerll and Cabanilles from the 17th century, to composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert and Max Reger from the 20th century. Sturm will explore the sonic capabilities of the Metzler organ, a jewel located in St. Mary’s Basilica.
A journey through musical time
In the words of the performer, his musical selection ‘moves between the centuries, between extreme contrasts and between written music and free improvisation’. The program includes Kerll/Cabanilles’ Baroque Battle and Reger’s fantasy Inferno, a work that was born in the context of the First World War. Next, Bach’s iconic Passacaglia, which makes the most of the sonic possibilities of the Baroque organ, will be combined with Schubert’s Musical Moments, which, according to Sturm, ‘seem to come from another world’.
Improvisations and tributes
During the concert, Sturm will also offer improvisations that will explore themes of nature and the limits of the organ’s sound. The concert will culminate with a great symphonic improvisation in honor of the composer Anton Bruckner, who celebrates his bicentenary this year. This moment promises to be a tribute to his mastery as a composer and organ improviser.
A festival of international prestige
With this concert, the tenth edition of the Poblet International Organ Festival closes, which has become a benchmark for its quality programming and the presence of renowned international organists. In this edition, talents such as Leonardo Carrieri and Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas have participated, joining a list of more than thirty performers who have performed at the monastery since the inauguration of the Metzler organ.
The Metzler organ: a versatile instrument
The Metzler de Poblet organ is not only an instrument designed to perform German and French Baroque music, but its versatility allows it to accommodate a wide range of repertoire, including works of Romanticism and even contemporary music. This singularity positions it as an essential instrument for organ music, expanding its interpretive possibilities.
