Album Notes

Released on January 13, 2006, "The Overture Concert Organ: A Sound Spectacular" is the Madison Symphony Orchestra's third release on the ION label. The CD was created in response to overwhelming customer demand for a recording featuring the MSO’s massive, 4,040-pipe Overture Concert Organ, which resides in the new Overture Hall, a $205 million arts facility in downtown Madison. (For more information on the organ, visit www.madisonsymphony.org/organ.)

The nearly 62-minute CD features MSO organist and curator Samuel Hutchison in solo performances of some of the most beloved repertoire for the instrument, in which he displays the full color palette and tonal range of the Overture Concert Organ in the acoustically splendid setting of Overture Hall.

From the wonderfully soft melodies of J. Stuart Archer’s arrangement of the familiar Londonderry Air, to the awe-inspiring power of Charles-Marie Widor’s Toccata, this recording is a prime example of the thrilling majesty that “the King of Instruments” can attain.

“We selected these works to delight both organ enthusiasts and casual listeners, with selections from Bach, Mozart and Handel as well as lesser-known composers,” Hutchison said. “The recording shows the amazing tonal range and colors of the Overture Concert Organ.”

The CD was recorded October 11-12, 2005 in Overture Hall, and produced by Marvin Nonn.