Lionel Rogg’s career was launched with the works of J. S. Bach. After finishing his studies at the Geneva Conservatory with Pierre Segond for organ and Nikita Magaloff for piano, Lionel Rogg gave a series of ten recitals at the Victoria Hall, Geneva, performing the complete organ works of Bach. The success of these performances led to the recording of this impressive programme.

Since that time, Lionel Rogg has travelled the world, giving countless organ recitals in Europ East and West, the Americas, Australia, Korea and Japan.His recordings include three versions of the Bach’s organ works, the Art of Fugue (Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros 1970), the complete organ works of Buxtehude (Deutscher Schallplattenpreis 1980), Couperin, Clérambault, Grigny and Brahms, and recordings of Liszt, Reger, etc.

Professor of Organ at the Geneva Conservatory until 2001, Lionel Rogg has welcomed students from all over the world. He frequently gives master-classes in Universities and Honchshulen and is now be professor of organ and improvisation at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

More recently, Lionel Rogg has developped his talents as a composer. His catalogue contains numerous works for organ, piano, for choir and orchestra and for chamber music. He has recently been commissioned by the city of Geneva to write a concerto for organ and orchestra to mark the 1993 inauguration of the new organ (built by Van den Heuvel) in the Victoria Hall, Geneva. He is now organist in charge of this instrument.

In 1989, Lionel Rogg received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Geneva.

http://lionelrogg.ch/

Louis ROBILLIARD has a First Prize in Organ an improvisation unanimously awarded – from the National Superior Conservatory of Music in Paris.

Professor of organ at the National Regional Conservatory in Lyon, titular organist of the Cavaillé-Coll organ at the church of Saint François de Sales in Lyon, Louis ROBILLIARD is one of the most well-known organiste of his generation.

He plays regularly in numerous festivals, tours annually abroad, particularly in the U.S.A., giving many concerts and masterclasses, and serves on many international furies.

The interest he has for organ-bulding and protection of historical instruments has led him to be a member of the National Superior Commission of Historical Organe for 10 years.

He has made numerous recordings (works by Claude Ballif, Liszt, the Vienna School, Widor, as well as a record of improvisations).

He was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque and the President of the Republique Prize for his recording of « Imaginaire IV » by Claude Ballif.

At the center of his vast repertoire, Louis ROBILLIARD. performer, transcriber, improviser. acknowledges a preference for the 19th Century, whose aesthetics dictates that the organist be an « inspired architect », bringing together virtuosity, mastery of the instrument, science of Sound levels… all in service to music that is generous, lyrical and grandiose. For him, « Music is the indiscernible breath of another life, hidden, unfathomable… ».

Louis ROBILLIARD – Chartres 2007

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Robilliard

Georges ROBERT, titular organist of Notre-Dame de Versailles for more than a half century has gone Nov. 7, 2001, in his seventy-fourth year. Son of the organist of the Cathedral of Saint-Pol-de-Léon (Finistère), George Robert, who himself had played the organ in this church for 70 years, grand-son of Henry Sibout, organist St.-Catherine Honfleur (Calvados), George Robert, as once said Pierre Denis [The Organ, No. 114, April-June 1965], was a “running without failure, [an] poet of organ like his master André Marchal, [and] interprets anxious to deepen his knowledge of the classics”.

Born April 12, 1928 in Saint-Pol-de-Léon, he was first a student of his father, before arriving in Paris in 1941, at the age of 13, to become resident at the National Institute of Young Blind. He received here of teaching by true masters : Gaston Regular (piano), Eza (violin), Gaston Litaize (harmony) and André Marchal (organ). In 1946 he joined Yves Nat to study piano at the Paris Conservatoire, where he clinched a first prize four years later. Also a student of Suzanne Plé-Caussade and Marcel Dupré, he was awarded a first prize counterpoint (1951), a first prize for fugue (1953) and a first prize for organ (1953). The following year, George Robert was appointed professor of piano at the INJA and are also taught organ from 1969, as the CNR of Versailles (from 1975) and at the Schola Cantorum in Paris.

As church organist George Robert has had only one instrument : the organ Merklin / Gonzalez de Notre-Dame de Versailles, where he was appointed in May 1948. But as virtuoso the organ most major French forums have welcomed and indeed many other European and North America. Winner of the International Improvisation Competition in Haarlem (1955) and the competition Bach in Ghent (1955), the first execution price and improvisation of “Friends of the Organ” (Michel-Richard Delalande Price) in 1957, soloist at Radio-France, founder in 1957 of the Organ Academy “Music and Mountain” to Sarrances near Pau, in 1980 founder and president of the Organ Association of Friends of Versailles and its region Biarritz founder of Organ Academy in memory of André Marchal, a member of the District Committee of the organ to the General Council of Yvelines, correspondent of the High Commission of Historical Monuments of the Ministry of Culture, jury member Grand Prix de Chartres, George Robert was one of his few complete musicians have both a first prize in piano and organ 1st price, which made him not only a brilliant organist but also a pianist touch precise, and even a fine harpsichordist. Keyboard instruments had no secrets for this subtle artist.

He recorded the work’s complete organ works of François Couperin (1965), those of Caesar Franck (1994) and Augustin Barié, as well as French and Spanish music, sixteenth century -XVIIIème, organ Abbey Sarrance Aspe with the Gregorian Choir Pau direction : Jean Spaniol (CD Escale à Toulouse ESC 120). His catalog, although modest, however is representative of the music of his time: there is a piece for piano : Sonata for organ and pages published in the journal “Organ and Liturgy” : Prelude on reeds, Prelude to the Introit of the 1st Sunday of Advent, Offertory for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, For Elevation, For Communion and a Mass in five parts (Huguenin)…

Denis Havard de la Montagne
www.musimem.com
(With his permission)

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Robert_(musicien)

Born in Switzerland in the highly relative warmth of the month of February 1982, Benjamin Righetti studied the piano and the organ in a southerly direction, following the itinerary Neuchâtel – Lausanne – Geneva – Toulouse. Jean-François Antonioli, Yves Rechsteiner, François Delor, Jan Willem Jansen, Michel Bouvard and Philippe Lefebvre are the principal teachers who guided him towards the award of teaching and concert diplomas with the highest distinctions in these two instruments.

Between the ages of twenty and twenty-five he won a succession of prizes in six international organ competitions, one per year: the Concours Suisse de l’Orgue (2002), Bruges (2003), Tokyo-Musashino (2004), Freiberg (2005), Chartres (2006), and Paris (2007). In addition to these laurels gained among the world elite of his profession, he was also supported in his native country by the Fondation Irène Dénéréaz and the Pourcent Culturel Migros, and received the ‘Mérite Boyard’ prize of the municipality of Ollon (canton of Vaud).

A fervent advocate of a respectful approach to early repertoires, fascinated by the development of keyboard instruments, he also plays the fortepiano and the clavichord, as was the practice of organists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. His questioning attitude to the future of the musical world has led him to participate in the creation of contemporary works, for example his recording of Jacques Charpentier’s Pierres de lumière (DBA Productions, 2006) at the organ of Chartres Cathedral. More recently, his recording of the six Trio Sonatas of J. S. Bach on organs by the firm of Felsberg (K617, 2010) has been critically acclaimed for its richly colourful registration, its finesse and its sonic splendour.

He has already been invited to play many prestigious instruments, celebrating his twenty-fifth birthday in concert at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, being selected to close the Bachfest 2007 on the wonderful Silbermann organ of Freiberg Cathedral, and accompanying Saint-Saëns’s Third Symphony at a sell-out concert at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in 2009 just before flying across the Atlantic to perform on the historic Walker and Schywen organs of Costa Rica.

Benjamin Righetti has recently moved to the old town in Berne, where he is resident organist of the French Church, is in charge of the organ of the city’s Kultur-Casino, and holds a teaching post at the Berne University of the Arts / Department of Music (Church music – Bachelor – Master). In the summer he also dispenses pedagogical guidance at the Académie de Saessolsheim (Alsace), while in winter, if his concert schedule is empty for the moment, one is more likely to meet him on a snow-covered mountainside!

Benjamin RIGHETTI – Chartres 2009

http://www.415.ch/

Françoise Rieunier won eight first prizes at the Music National Conservatory of Paris, including those running on the organ and improvisation awarded unanimously first named by a prestigious jury (André Marchal, Marie-Claire Alain, Pierre Cochereau, Jean Guillou…)

She then stayed in Italy for three years and has studied with renowned organists as Luigi Tagliavini and Fernando Germani, and harpsichord with Ferruccio Vignanelli.

Loving every major musical trends, close to current composers Françoise Rieunier created many works of contemporary music.

Professor at the Conservatoire International, concert soloist Radio France, the Orchestre de Paris and many festivals, student and assistant of Olivier Messiaen to Great Organs of the Trinity, holder for 27 years of the Great Organ of St. Odile.

She also made a film about Mozart produced by Pierre Bellemare for television and, at the request of the Ministry of Culture, an educational film on the organ, screened in all high schools in France.

http://www.orgues-trouville.org/interprete-francoise-rieunier.html

Anders Riber was from 1973 to 2007 organist of the Cathedral of the Aarhus Cathedral – and therefore one of the main actors in the scene of the city of classical music.

A graduate of the Royal Academy in 1961. Organ degree in 1964. A student of Gaston Litaize in Paris in 1964, Anders Riber is 1965 to 1967 studying with Professor Georg Fjelrad to whom he would later succeed as organist of the cathedral.

From 1965 to 2002, Anders Riber teaches organ at the Royal Academy of Music and also worked as an examiner in the country’s music academies in Oslo and other music schools.

Anders Riber has performed as a soloist in Denmark and abroad. He was a member of the Danish Society of Organists music critic at Aarhus Stiftstidende a number of years.

Frequent juror for organ competition in Odense, Chartres, Lucerne, Poznan, Warsaw, Korschenbroich, Calgary, London and Vilnius, he served on the program committee for the city of Aarhus orchestra (1971-87).

Françoise Renet (Paris May 20 1924 Paris – Versailles March 23, 1995) was an important French organist.

She studied with Marcel Dupré (organ), Maurice Duruflé (improvisation), and Nadia Boulanger (harmony).

For 40 years she was associated with the great Cavaillé-Coll at Saint-Sulpice (Paris).

In 1955 Dupré named her Assistant Organist.

Upon his death she became Interim Organist (1971-1973), after which she was named Co-Titular Organist with Jean-Jacques Grunenwald. After Grunenwald’s death she again became Interim Organist (1983-1985), until the nomination of Daniel Roth.

From 1972 to 1990, Renet taught the organ class at the Marcel Dupré Conservatory in Meudon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7oise_Renet

Jean-Claude Raynaud was born June 30, 1937 in Mazamet (Tarn).

He continued his studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris where he won First Prize for harmony, counterpoint, fugue, piano accompaniment, organ.

Vocal coach at the Opera from 1965 to 1972, he was then appointed professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he teaches harmony.

Jean-Claude Raynaud is also organist titular at the Reformed Church of the Annunciation in Paris.

Discography :
Anthology of French organ music (VOX SVBX 5312)
Organ works of Olivier Messiaen (CBS 34-61250).
Works for brass and organ (with Brass quintet of the Orchestre de Paris) (Decca 7283)

Timothy Ravalde is the Assistant Organist of Chichester Cathedral and Musical Director of Fernhurst Choral Society. At Chichester Cathedral he is responsible for accompanying the daily choral services and assisting with the training of the choir.

He was educated at the Nelson Thomlinson School – Wigton, during which time he became Organ Scholar of Scholar of Carlisle Cathedral and a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. He then spent a year as Organ Scholar of Salisbury Cathedral.

He graduated from Cambridge University in 2010. As Organ Scholar of St John’s College he accompanied the choir for numerous tours, the famous annual Advent broadcasts and three critically acclaimed CD recordings with Chandos, as well as the daily chapel services. He also acted as Musical Director of the St John’s Singers, the College’s mixed voice choir and won the 2009 Brian Runnett Prize for organ playing.

Thimothy RAVALDE – Chartres 2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Ravalde

Born in Romania, Valentin Radu began his music studies at age four. At age six he made his first concert debut. In 1973, at 16, he won the prestigious Rome Piano Competition, and in 1979 – the Saarbrucken Organ Competition. In 1980, he won the silver medal (gold was not awarded) at the Bach International Competition in Leipzig.

Maestro Radu holds Doctoral and Masters degrees from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Bucharest Academy of Music. In 1976, he founded and conducted Juvenes Musici, a chamber orchestra under the auspices of the Bucharest Philharmonic. In 1980 he founded “The Juilliard Bach Players” chamber orchestra and initiated the “Bach at Juilliard” concert series at New York’s Lincoln Center.

In 1984 Valentin Radu was invited to inaugurate and later (in 1985) make the first and only LP solo recording on the newly re-built organ of the Imperial Chapel of Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. The original instrument was built in 1721, on which Mozart himself performed during his 12 years as Vienna’s Court Musician.

In addition to being a classical music scholar and artist, Valentin Radu is equally accomplished in jazz performance as a conductor and a solo performer. In December 1998, he conducted the 97-member Bucharest Philharmonic in a Gershwin Centennial Gala concert, featuring the Rhapsody in Blue (Dan Grigore, soloist), An American in Paris, and Porgy and Bess. In November of 1999, Radu conducted the Arad Phiharmonic in a centennial concert featuring works by Duke Ellington and George Gershwin. Since May 2000, Maestro Radu has conducted extraordinary jazz concerts in Bucharest, with his “Sound” jazz group, featuring singer Teodora Enache and Romanian jazz legend Johny Raducanu.

In May 1999, Radu participated in the historic visit to Romania of Pope John Paul II. In September 2004, he was invited to be the sole performer at a special U.N. gala in New York honoring the President of Romania.

In December 1997, Radu was awarded the Golden Apple by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. In February 1999, the Romanian Music Critics’ Association named him “1998 Musician of the Year”. In April of 2003, Radu was bestowed the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Bucharest by the mayor of his native town who is presently Romania’s President.

On December 20, 2005, Valentin Radu received the highest civil award of Romania : The Grand Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit (Romanian equivalent of The French Legion of Honor or British Knighthood), in recognition of his life achievement in the arts and his efforts as “Cultural Ambassador” of Romania. Radu became the seventh and youngest recipient of this most prestigious award in the history of Romania.

Valentin Radu, Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Ama Deus Ensemble and Vox Renaissance Consort, has led numerous orchestras and vocal ensembles in Europe and the U.S., including the Hungarian National Philharmonic, Bucharest, Arad, Oradea Philharmonics, the Budapest Chamber Orchestra and the Romania National Radio Orchestra. In 1996 he conducted the Bucharest Philharmonic in Handel’s Messiah, and in 1997 led the Romanian National Radio Orchestra in Handel’s Acis and Galatea (both English language premieres).

He has conducted Vox Ama Deus in various programs ranging from motets and madrigals to authentically staged Renaissance operas performed on original instruments. Since 1997, he conducts Ama Deus Ensemble and Maestro Dan Grigore, a legendary Romanian pianist, in their annual Viennese Gala concerts in Philadelphia. He also conducted Ama Deus Ensemble in its yearly Good Friday performances at Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentin_Radu