Olivier Latry - César Franck: In Spiritum (2005/2022)

Recorded in 2003, this program of rare organ works by Cesar Franck offers precise, poised playing, at all turns delightfully shaped (International Record Review) with magnificent sound from the Notre Dame organ.

This ‘spiritual journey’ could not be piloted by a more sympathetic guide than Olivier Latry, titulaire at Notre-Dame, Paris. He brings the full splendour of the cathedral’s romantically voiced organ to bear on a satisfying programme of Franck’s large-scale organ music. This recording, made in November 2003, displays the instrument in peak tonal condition, perfectly equipped to bring out every subtle nuance of Franck’s registrational demands.

The opening Pièce héroïque chugs along most satisfactorily, its ebb and flow perfectly judged. The tuttis are clear and uncongested and the limpid flutes contrast clearly against the various reed stops. Latry’s approach to the well known Prélude, fugue et variation struck me initially as being rather matter-of-fact. However, on repeated hearings I became convinced that his judicious application of rubato worked better at the slightly quicker tempo than that adopted by many other players.

No survey of Franck’s masterpieces can avoid the meditative Trois chorals composed at the end of his life in 1890. Latry has the measure of each. The first starts ever so gently, all silken and smooth, gradually and organically building to a splendid but not crushing conclusion. The second is more elusive in terms of its material. Here Latry produces a lovely harmonium imitation and shapes the meditative phrases with exquisite care. No 3 is slightly shorter than its companions: the passionate semiquaver figuration cuts through convincingly and the final climax will rattle most unsecured household knick-knacks! DG’s engineers have gone for a close recorded balance with a little action thump resulting. The documentation annoyingly lacks a biography of Latry, which seems a mean-spirited oversight. In short, though, this is a wonderful disc which is both musically edifying and sonically satisfying.