Anne Marsden Thomas
Notre Dame de France, London
9th November 2005

Anne Marsden Thomas gave the November recital in the Ladies First series at Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, opening with a brightly forceful reading of Bach's Piece d'Orgue. Franck's Second Chorale made a strong contrast with deep, warm registration and some lovely changes of texture. A rather soupy tremulant added to the sense of gentle decadence!

Clerambault's Suite du 2eme ton served to clean the palette with a fine variety of tone and much gently reflective playing. The Basse de Cromorne was so reserved in impact it seemed almost shy. Nadia Boulanger's Piece sur des airs populaires flamands made an interesting transition back to the twentieth century where she played Howells' Psalm Prelude Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death. The ability of this organ to respond to highly diverse writing and tonal styles never ceases to amaze.

Two popular pieces to conclude - Vierne's Berceuse and his Carillon de Westminster - bringing another fine evening to a resounding close.

BH