Quotable Quotes
The Auckland Town Hall Organ is internationally renowned, with world-class organists lining up to play the iconic instrument.
Read on for visiting musicians' endorsements of New Zealand's largest concert organ below.
“I wish Klais would build more organs like this.”
Olivier Latry (France)
Chief organist Notre Dame cathedral, Paris
Pictured at the Auckland Town Hall Organ in 2013 | Photo by Hans Weichselbaum.
Listen to an excerpt of Olivier Latry’s performance of Franck’s Pièce Héroïque, recorded by RNZ in the Auckland Town Hall on 3 April 2013:
“This organ ranks with the finest Town Hall organs anywhere in the world.”
Thomas Trotter (UK)
Birmingham City organist and inaugural recitalist
Listen to Thomas Trotter’s March 2010 performance of Poulenc’s Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 on the Auckland Town Hall Organ with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Arvo Volmer:
“…a simply marvellous instrument that is so flexible and a great pleasure to play.”
Benjamin Sheen (UK)
Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge, U.K.
Pictured at the Auckland Town Hall Organ in 2019 | Photo by Cactus Photography.
Listen to Benjamin Sheen play Poulenc’s Organ Concerto, recorded by RNZ in the Auckland Town Hall on 22 August 2019:
“Possibly the best organ Klais has built.”
Dr Isabelle Demers (Canada)
Organ Professor, McGill University, Quebec.
Pictured at the Auckland Town Hall Organ in 2014 | Photo by Hans Weichselbaum.
Watch Isabelle Demers’ recent Auckland Town Hall Free Organ Concert, livestreamed on 9 July 2023:
“It reminds me of London's Royal Albert Hall.”
Cameron Carpenter (USA)
Organist, Berlin Philharmonie.
