Roger Sayer at the organ of Rochester Cathedral
HERALD HAVPCD 286
71' 30"
www.heraldav.co.uk

Two of the real heavyweights here! The recording opens with a splendidly virile reading of Liszt's Fantasia & Fugue on BACH and ends with an equally appealing reading of Reger's similarly named work. I happen to prefer the Reger and find that the weight of the Mander sound coupled with the lively acoustic of the building make the whole exciting and stimulating.

But these delights are not alone. A quietly pleasing reading of Franck's Prière gives way to Dupré's Variations sur un Noël which enables Roger Sayer to demonstrate a wide range of solo stops.

Duruflé's Prélude, Adagio et Choral varié bubbles gently from the start, building into a suitably awe-inspiring climax. An unexpected treat.

BH