Listening Room: Anna Lapwood

Symphonie Concertante, Joseph Jongen (1873-1973)

The first one on my list is Toccata from Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante. I didn’t know this until recently but when I heard it, I felt like this was me summed up in a piece of music. It’s so busy and excited and positive. It actually feels a bit like film music. It’s very popular among organists but, oddly, not well known outside that world. I love the Christian Schmitt recording.

Symphonie Concertante, Joseph Jongen. Christian Schmitt organ, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken-Kaiserslautern, Martin Haselböck (conductor), SWR

This Shining Night (2023), Christopher Churcher

Multiple people sent This Shining Night to me on Christopher’s behalf, saying I had to check out this amazing young composer. They knew I’d like this piece. In it, he manages to capture shimmering stars so beautifully. It has this slow introduction, after which these scales build up and up and up to reveal sparkling stars. It’s such talented writing, it’s glorious. There’s a great version by the organist François Cloete.

This Shining Night, Christopher Churcher. François Cloete organ, Musikschopfer

Limina Luminis (2023), Olivia Belli

The Italian composer Olivia Belli wrote a piece for me to premiere at the BBC Proms last year called Limina Luminis. I have played it in every recital since because it’s such beautiful storytelling. It’s inspired a bit by Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for Interstellar as it shares some of the same minimalist vibes. It’s basically the journey of an astronaut going into space. It builds up to this massive climax and then everything goes quiet, falling back to one note out of which comes this little melody – and that’s the moment the astronaut looks back to Earth for the first time. It makes me cry every time I play it. It will be on my new album coming out in spring 2025.

Limina Luminis by Olivia Belli

Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain, Op. 7, Duruflé (1902–1986)

I especially like the fugue, it’s such an amazing piece to play. I always think it’s telling the story of growing up. The fugue subject starts so shyly, uncertain and then develops into something full of passion and energy and joy. I always think of the girl choristers I teach. They come to me as shy 10-year-olds and leave, hopefully, as confident 18-year-olds.

Duruflé, Complete Organ Works. Thomas Trotter, organ – King’s College Cambridge

Pure Imagination, Anthony Newley, arr. Carpenter

My last recommendation is a very silly one, Cameron Carpenter’s rendition of Pure Imagination. He plays it on his touring organ – a portable, custom-built organ he can take around the world. It has such crazy sounds, and you listen to it, and you think, that can’t be an organ? But it is! Have a listen to it and you’ll see what I mean. It’s also virtuosic but in a lovely, happy way only Cameron can do because he’s such a fantastic player. It captures the joy and silliness of playing the organ.

If You Could Read My Mind, Cameron Carpenter organ, Sony Classical