Cameron Carpenter to perform organ concert

A poster for the concert on March 29. Courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall
This Saturday evening, Cameron Carpenter, the first organist nominated for a Grammy for a solo album, will deliver a captivating performance at the Shenzhen Concert Hall, his exclusive stop in China during his current global tour.

In honor of the 140th anniversary of Victor Hugo’s passing, Carpenter will present an original live score for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1923). Starring Lon Chaney and directed by Wallace Worsley, the film was Universal’s most successful silent film.

The concert will present a restored high-definition screening of the film complemented by Carpenter’s original score in an uninterrupted 110-minute display of brilliance, promising the audience an exhilarating journey through the emotional complexities and profound humanistic themes of the cinematic gem.

Cameron Carpenter. Photo by Dovile Sermokas

Hailing from Pennsylvania, the United States, Carpenter commenced piano and organ lessons at a young age. A Juilliard School graduate with a master’s degree in organ performance, he studied composition under Kendall Durelle Briggs and received piano coaching from Miles Fusco.

Renowned for his unconventional flair and exceptional virtuosity, Carpenter has elevated the organ to a new level. Departing from the traditional solemn image associated with the instrument, he has presented works by Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Poulenc with his distinctive personal touch, appearing with Mohawk in studded leather jackets on stage. From Piazzolla’s tangos to folk melodies, film soundtracks, and original compositions, Carpenter’s recordings span a diverse range. The New York Times lauded him as a transformative force in classical music, reshaping and redefining his instrument.

Since his groundbreaking Grammy nomination in 2008 for “Revolutionary,” Carpenter has consistently pushed artistic boundaries. Notable accolades include Germany’s ECHO Klassik Award for “If You Could Read My Mind” in 2015 and his orchestral arrangement of Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” for organ, which premiered in Shanghai in 2018. Having adapted over 100 pieces for the organ, he has also revolutionized the instrument by inventing the International Touring Organ (ITO), a portable digital pipe organ.

Echoing the timeless themes of kindness, evil, rebellion, and redemption, inherent in Quasimodo’s roar, Archdeacon Claude’s desires, and Esmeralda’s passion and innocence, Carpenter’s punk version of organ music promises to breathe life into classical literature and silent film with the organ’s majestic resonance and tremors.

Tickets: 80-480 yuan

Time: 8 p.m., March 29

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station ,Exit D

Source：ShenzhenDaily