Organist Bryan Anderson drew 300 people on Nov. 8 to the Cathedral of the Madeleine for a performance blending Bach and Frank Zappa during the Eccles Organ Festival.
The 300-person turnout on Sunday evening marked another chapter for the festival. Attendees packed the pews and filled seats near a live video projector directed at the gallery.
Anderson played a set that included Bach’s Trio Sonata No. 4 in E Minor alongside Zappa’s Peaches en Regalia. Doors opened at 7:15 p.m. ahead of the 8 p.m. recital, allowing visitors to secure vantage points near the live footage screens.
“Bryan is one of the most talented organists of the young generation,” Gabriele Terrone, organist and assistant director of music at the cathedral, said.
Terrone said that the concert series intentionally pairs emerging artists with established veterans. The Eccles Organ Festival has been running since 1994, following the 1993 installation of mechanical action English-style pipes inside the cathedral.
That mechanical connection gives musicians full control of sound production, a control a performer doesn’t have with an electric connection, according to Terrone. Funding for the organ installation came in part from the Eccles Foundation.
“They [the foundation] wanted the organ to be used not only for the liturgical services of the cathedral, but also as a concert instrument,” Terrone said, explaining the origin of the festival.
The concert series regularly brings in national and international performers, featuring at least two international acts per season. Festival attendee Debra Rossie emphasized the instrument’s unique draw.
“People come all over the world to play this organ,” Rossie said. “It’s pretty exquisite.”
Performances remain free of charge on Sunday evenings to accommodate local residents and travelers. The schedule also incorporates gallery nights for hands-on public education and a collaborative Christmas concert with the Utah Brass Symphony.
Terrone highlighted the broader cultural mission behind the open-door policy. “We want to open the doors of the cathedral to the people not just for the services, but as a center for the arts,” he said. “Cathedrals have been centers of the arts for centuries. So we want to maintain this role in today’s age.”
Over nine years of attendance, Rossie and her husband David have watched a word-of-mouth underground community form around the recitals. Sharon Bouros, visiting from Arizona for the weekend, attended the Anderson performance and contrasted the venue with her home region.
“I don’t know of any place near where I live where I could have this opportunity,” Bouros said. “It’s nothing like this gorgeous church with these acoustics and this beautiful organ.”
Terrone attributed part of this enthusiasm to the local cultural landscape. “In Salt Lake City, because of the presence of the LDS church, there’s a particular affection and fascination towards organ music and organists,” he said. “I think this is a very special place for the organ because of that.”
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