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Organ at the Opera

One of Move's all-time best sellers! Sydney City organist Robert Ampt and Amy Johansen perform a program of popular organ duets on the famous Sydney Opera House organ.

'Waltzing Matilda' as a duet for four feet (and no hands!) Organ duets performed on the famous Sydney Opera House organ built by Ronald Sharp. Compositions and arrangements for organ duet including Handel's 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba', Rossini's 'William Tell Overture', Mendelssohn's 'Overture for Wind Instruments', Grainger's 'Blithe Bells', Soler's 'Concierto I ' and more.

Artists

Robert Ampt

Robert Ampt is the Sydney City Organist and Organist/Choirmaster of Sydney's German Lutheran Church. An active recitalist and teacher, he composes and arranges music for the organ, has written two children's introductions to the organ, and has written an extensive history of the Sydney Town Hall organ.

Amy Johansen

Amy Johansen is the Sydney University Organist and an Honorary Carillonist at the University. Although her repertoire encompasses all periods of music, it was her first CD, The Embrace of Fire, devoted to the organ music of Naji Hakim, which initially brought her international acclaim.


Press quotes

“This is an exceptional CD of both the Opera House instrument and the artistry of Robert Ampt and Amy Johansen ... the best organ duet recording I have encountered.”

— Sydney Organ Journal

“everyone should have a copy - the repertoire represented is unique, the playing is precise, masterly full of feeling”

— Hunter District Organ Society

“Buy this - it is a beautiful and exciting recording by artists I admire, on an organ I admire (what a superb sound it makes!) by a builder I admire!”

— Nigel Nettleship, Victorian Organ Journal

Audio preview

Track Listing

  1. Solomon, HWV 67: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba George Frideric Handel 3:32
  2. Adagio für die Flötenuhr, WoO 33/1 Ludwig van Beethoven 5:02

    3. Waltzing Matilda - Duet for Four Feet Robert Ampt

  3. Introduction and Theme 1:08
  4. Variation I - Playful :41
  5. Variation II - Waltz fughetta 2:06
  6. Variation III - Bold :50
  7. Variation IV - Lament 1:17
  8. Finale - Toccata 2:00
  9. Overture for Wind Instruments, Op. 24 Felix Mendelssohn 8:38
  10. Blithe Bells Percy Grainger 4:46

    11. Rhapsody Naji Hakim

  11. Allegro molto 2:03
  12. Andante sostenuto 2:17
  13. Vivace 1:33
  14. Andante tranquillo/Allegro giocoso 2:49
  15. Quodlibet 1:24

    16. Concerto in C Major for Two Organs, R. 463 No. 1 Padre Antonio Soler

  16. Andante 2:51
  17. Minue 3:16
  18. Niagara: Grand Galop de Concert Louis Godard 4:37
  19. Overture to William Tell Gioacchino Rossini 12:27

Performers

Composers

George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, and concertos. Handel's music was well known to such later composers as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. The crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.

Felix Mendelssohn

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847) was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's work includes symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music.

Percy Grainger

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961) is one of Australia's best known composers. A brilliant arranger of folk music but also a pioneer in percussion and electronic music, Grainger's Warriors was recently heard in the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Naji Hakim

Composer and organist Naji Hakim is presently organist of la Trinite (directly succeeding the late Olivier Messiaen) and is currently professor at the National Regional Conservatory of Boulogne-Billancourt and visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Padre Antonio Soler

Antonio Soler (1729-83) was a monk of Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial and also the choir master. He composed much church music, mainly for choir, and for the Royal Court.


Contributors

Organ builder

Ronald Sharp

Ronald Sharp (1929-2021) was a self-taught Australian organ builder whose most notable instruments were the organ at the Sydney Opera House (1979), the chapel at Ormond College, Melbourne (1974) and Perth Concert Hall (1976) as well as a number of others. He specialised in mechanical, tracker action instruments in the baroque tradition, but using modern materials.


Where to buy

Organ at the Opera is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Organ at the Opera is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
63 minutes 17 seconds
Contributor
Ronald Sharp
Venue
Sydney Opera House
Release date
1996
Copyright
© 1996 Move Records
Phonogram
℗ 1996 Move Records
Categories
Australian, Classical, Organ
Catalogue number
MD 3170
Alternate catalogue number
MD3170
Barcode
EAN 9314574317022