Wanamaker Org Centennial Concert-Music for Org &

Peter Richard Conte knows the world's largest fully-functional pipe organ better than anyone, and he's a master at playing it. Macy's is to be thanked for rebuilding and maintaining this grand instrument. There is none like it in the world. This recording is an excellent example of what Conte and the organ can do. When in Philadelphia, by all means check with Macy's and hear the instrument in person.

I haven't heard the Wanamaker organ in person, but, this CD is really fantastic. If you want to hear a world class organ in all it's glory then I don't think you can go wrong with buying this CD. Be advised there can be some substantial bass from the large pipes so you may want to tread lightly with your volume knob at first. At times your amplifier and speakers will get a pretty good workout!

Outstanding performance (live) from Peter Conte and the Orchestra!Note that this is a live recording, so that some of the organ may not be as sharp as an organ only recording, but it sounds as if you re in Macy's (Wanamakers) store.Very well done!

If you ever stood in this place, saw the eagle, and heard a talented artist on this magnificent instrument, this will transport you right back there. For you without this background but you enjoy the best in organ music, fasten your seat belts and prepare for the a ride to rapture.

This CD is all pluses - you have a major, top notch organist performing works that show off the organ, it is this combination of organ and organist that makes this CD exceptional !!!

Great performance, but the organ is too much in the background - not its usual power.

The Wanamaker organ is a imposant instrument into a luxury department store for every season

okay

I love organ music. I grew up listening to this magnificent instrument, haunting church performances when I could, buying every LP and CD for new recordings on organ, and learning to play some of these works myself (badly, but hey, I tried!). So, coming across this Gothic recording I had to buy it. I'm glad I did.The orchestra, "The Symphony in C" is new to me, as is the conductor, but the two primary works on the disc are not: Guilmant Symphony 2 and Widor Symphony 6. The latter has quite a few recordings available, mostly in box sets, while I have only one or two other recordings of the Guilmant. There's two other pieces on the CD, the Alleluja and the Hymne, both by Jongen. Going into this, although I had a passing familiarity with the two main works, they are neither favourites nor often listened to, so it was an interesting experience to go through this CD.Lets start with the orchestra and the recording. The engineering is well done, although I find the soundstage swung very heavily to the left. The dynamics are good, and the bass note reproduction is excellent, giving my subs a good workout. The "Symphony in C" does a good job, with no flubs I could hear, but they are not as tight and cohesive as some orchestras performing similar works. The organist, Peter Conte, does a solid performance, making the CD quite a pleasant listening experience. Even at low volumes, I found the whole experience enjoyable and the lowest organ notes are definitely there if your system can reproduce them.The Wanamaker organ is the focus of the recording, of course, and it does have a pleasant sound to it. However, despite a lot going for it, it simply doesn't seem to stack up in finesse and sound against some of the top-notch European organs. That doesn't mean the Wanamaker doesn't sound impressive here: it does, but there's a bit of "more is better" that at times I find a wee bit overwhelming.The Guilmant is a nice work, with some interesting melodies. The Widor is much the same. Neither will become favourites after this recording, but neither will they be ignored completely. I do find one of the other Widor cycles on CD more appealing, but that's very personal taste. On the whole, a nice disc of music not often recorded, and Gothic is to be congratulated on this release.

Eine wunderschöne CD mit hervorragend eingespielter Musik für Orgel und Orchester. Sehr wuchtiger Klang mit extremen Dynamiksprüngen und abgrundtiefen Bässen. Kaufempfehlung.