Prelude and Fugue for Organ in E Flat Major, BWV 552 ("St. Anna")
Carpenter Improvisation
For spectacular stage costumes in the spirit of Elvis Presley, American organist Cameron Carpenter is called the "podium organist." However, shocking is the last thing you think about when you get to Carpenter’s concert. The delight is caused by brilliant virtuosity, boundless technical freedom and the courage of his interpretations. It amazes listeners with puzzling tricks, such as playing passages from Chopin's sketches on the foot keyboard, but, according to critics, it possesses “the deepest musical intelligence” (The Wall Street Journal).
Skill and outstanding talent have become a springboard to recognition in professional circles. He became the first organist in the world whose solo album was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Today, the musician’s repertoire is not only extensive, it goes far beyond the traditional framework: “I feel that the body needs a revolution. We need to turn our ideas about this instrument and play different music on it, ”the musician said in an interview. In addition to organ classics and modern music, Carpenter plays something that no one dared to perform before him: Mephisto Waltz of Liszt, Tales of Metner and Etudes op. 10 Chopin, even more complicated in the wording of Godowsky; improvises easily and naturally in the styles of folk, jazz, soul, disco and pop.
