César Franck: The Organ Works

If the 1977 ‘Great’ Klais organ in Ingolstadt Minster initially seems a curious vehicle for Franck’s romanticism-in-extremis organ works, Franz Hauk, resident there since 1988, eloquently bends the impressive IV/106 instrument to his will. Hauk roots his playing in the rich pluralism of its voicing to exploit its colouristic subtlety and robustly direct clarity while making much of the Minster’s fabled 11-second acoustics. Despite the title, this is not the complete œuvre; but what is here, framed and punctuated by forceful renditions of the three majestic Chorales, is welcome, the other major items being a luminously realised Prelude, Fugue & Variation and the pretty and pert op.19 Pastorale.

MICHAEL QUINN Read the full review on Agora Classica