Events

STEPHEN THARP, organ 

 

Programme: 

Georg Friedrich Händel: The Music for the Royal Fireworks, Overture
(organ arrangement:  Stephen Tharp)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Allein Gott in der Höh’ sei Ehr’, chorale prelude BWV 662

Johann Sebastian Bach: Gigue from Fugue in G major, BWV 577

Ludwig van Beethoven: Scherzo from Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op.  55, Eroica
(organ arrangement: Stephen Tharp)

Gabriel Fauré: Pavane, op. 50 (organ arrangement: Stephen Tharp)

Jean-Baptiste Robin: Chant du Ténéré

Petr Eben: Moto Ostinato, third movement from Sunday Music (Musica dominicalis)

Louis Vierne: Adagio from the Organ Symphony No.3, Op. 28

Franz Liszt: Totentanz (Paraphrase on Dies Irae), S. 126

 

 

 

Critics perceive Stephen Tharp as a completely unique musician and place him in the firmament of music stars and, inspired by his distinctive artistic personality and original interpretations, describe him with unusual phrases such as "the organist for the connoisseur" (Organ Magazine, Germany), "the thinking person’s performer" (Het Orgel), “every bit the equal of any organist” (The American Organist Magazine) and “the consummate creative artist” (Michael Barone, Pipedreams). He is recognized as one of the greatest organists of our time! The New York Times described him as an organist whose playing is "colourful, driving and brilliant". Tharp is a musician of immense, truly captivating energy: he has given 1,500 concerts on 61 world tours and built one of the most respectable careers in the world. He is listed in the Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World, and has been given the International Performer of the Year Award by the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, considered by many to be the highest award an organist can receive from a professional association in the United States. In 2015, Tharp was also awarded the Paul Creston Award for artistic excellence in performing sacral music. Stephen Tharp earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Illinois College, Jacksonville, and his Master’s degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, under Rudolf Zuiderveld and Wolfgang Rübsam. He has also worked privately with Jean Guillou in Paris. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at one of the world's most famous churches – St. James’ Episcopal Church at Madison Avenue in New York City. Tharp will present his spectacular organ skills in Zagreb, interpreting some of the most beautiful works of organ literature of all time, some of which he himself has arranged for the occasion - works by Bach, Händel, Beethoven, Fauré and Liszt!