LDV95

20 LISZT • INSPIRATIONS Organists can play from two consoles at the Philharmonie. One is directly attached to the organ and the other has been placed, for this recording, on the platform, where the conductor usually stands. What were the sensations you got from sitting in this position? The ‘drama’ of the organist playing at the mechanical console is that while of course you can feel under your fingers the wind produced by the instrument (that is, you are in total interaction with the organ as ‘machine’), you can’t actually hear anything, because you’re sitting below the pipes . . . As the Philharmonie organ is very broad, it’s difficult to perceive the departments situated fifteen metres from the console. When you’re placed on the platform and therefore distant from the instrument, the physical relationship has unfortunately disappeared. On the other hand, you get the advantage of the overall sound, the sonic image received by the conductor and therefore by the listener. The musical effect is quite different and corresponds exactly to César Franck’s famous remark, ‘My organ is an orchestra!’