Delos Diary

As a response to all the hoopla surrounding the grand opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall here in Los Angeles, I have been looking for some way to relate Delos International with the great event. At last: it suddenly became easy after the appearance of the latest issue of LA Weekly last Thursday, October 23.
The popular give-away tabloid carried a feature article extolling the prospective virtues of the stunning new Manuel Rosales pipe organ which audaciously graces the area behind the orchestral platform in the new hall. Rosales, who lives in Los Angeles, is considered one of the foremost organ designers on the international scene. Even though all the parts of his organ are installed, he will require almost a full year until the instrument is "voiced" properly so that when played all 6,000+ pipes will "sound like components of a single instrument."
For those who don't want to wait that long, the Delos catalog, known since its inception for fine organ recordings, lists three CDs featuring a great Rosales-designed instrument, his Opus 11 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland, Oregon. Installed in the 1980s, this organ (total pipes, 4,194) is highly regarded by the organ community and the three Delos albums available explore its range and possibilities. Gargoyles and Chimeras (DE 3077) stars organist David Britton playing unusual works by Diogo de Conceição, J.S. Bach, Michel Corette, Giuseppe Gherardeschi, Louis-James-Alfred Lefébure-Wély, Louis Vierne and Camille Saint-Säens. Organ Music of Reger and Vierne (DE 3096), David Craighead, organist, is next in line, and finally famed organist Catharine Crozier recorded a recital of great French organ music Things Visible and Invisible (DE 3147). Composers on this recording include Olivier Messaien, Jean Langlais and Jehan Alain.
All three albums have been praised by critics and organ aficionados and give a preview of what to expect from the fantastic new instrument awaiting its inauguration in Disney Hall.