Speaking Soundly: This organ is not involuntary

Speaking Soundly: This organ is not involuntary

Daily Comfort Zone

norman lebrecht

March 20, 2024

Anna Lapwood has emnerged as the most publicised organist of modern times, a virtuoso on every known form of social media.

The Met’s principal trumpet David Krauss is a big fan. But that does not mean he gives her an easy ride.

He says she’s like a bear riding a unicycle.

Lapwood says she is she is proud to #playlikeagirl. Oh, boy!

Listen here.

Comments

  • Graham Eagland says:

    A vote for Jonathan Scott.

  • JennyS says:

    This is brilliant!

  • Save the MET says:

    Cameron Carpenters psychological journey gave her an open slot. When it comes to virtuosity though, there is no comparison, Carpenter, despite what the Bach purists think is the greatest technician since the outlandish Virgil Fox and the stoic E. Power Biggs and is flashier than both.

    • Organist says:

      This. It’s pathetic to see people being “introduced” to the organ by someone whose repertoire consists mainly of Hans Zimmer and Einaudi bits played on a single manual (left hand broken chord, right hand melody, left foot bass) and mugging a big phony open-mouthed “Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it inspiring and awesome?” act all the while. I was never a fan of Carpenter, but after all, he’s a genius of some kind. Anna Lapwood is more or less just another organ student, and in fact there are any number of organ students at most conservatories who can and do play circles around her, from memory, without making a fuss about themselves. Pity to see them being ignored for, after all, just another opportunist.

    • Organist says:

      @Save the MET- what is the psychological journey of Carpenter to which you refer? I hope he is all right? Looking round for his socials it seems he closed them, except for a Facebook group which seems to have been abandoned since 2021… (!?)

  • Neil Cardew-Fanning says:

    > . . . like a bear riding a unicycle<? Time for David Krauss to spend more time out of his mancave. There wasn't the social media which helps put the talented & very skilled Ms. Lapwood in the forefront, but last century, Gillian Weir & Jennifer Bate were pretty famous as UK virtuoso concert organists. The U.S.A. also had their own very well-known female virtuoso concert organists. And let's not forget the France's Jeanne Demissieux. Yes, there are fewer famous female concert organists than males ones, but Ms. Lapwood is fortunately part of a tradition, not the exception.

    • Organist says:

      Agreed. Except that Anna Lapwood is a Bic lighter next to the flamethrowers that were all those women. Gillian Weir would scoff.

  • lapsed organist says:

    She should have stuck to playing the harp…

  • Beggars Belief says:

    It’s hopeless. The only relief is that after she’s won every award that no one has ever heard of the shimmer will wear off. Talk about being famous for being famous

    The Paris Hilton of the organ world.

  • MOST READ TODAY: