Curley appointment for town hall organ | Auckland Entertainment | Events, Movies and TV Guide for Auckland

Internationally acclaimed organist Carlo Curley will be playing the Auckland Town Hall Organ in September.

In an area of entertainment not particularly known for it's hype and extreme superlatives, Curley is being billed as the "Pavarotti of the Organ".

Curley is good fodder for critics and opera fans. He famously declared "Bach invented rock and roll". He also described one particular composition by Handel as a "real toe-tapper". During one performance he warned his "size 12's are going to go bananas with smoke rising from the pedalboard".

The town hall organ is at the centre of a revival after multi-million dollar resotrations were completed earleir this year.

Originally built in 1911 by the English firm of Hill, Norman & Beard, the organ was a gift to the city from former mayor Henry Brett. The gift was conditional on a number of free concerts being staged each year, a tradition that has been upheld to this day.

The organ fell from grace when it was dramatically altered around 1970 in line with the neo-baroque movement prevalent at that time. This involved removing or replacing many pipes and lowering its wind pressures.

According to Auckland City records, all that remained of the original organ was the case, display pipes, wind chests and reservoirs. It lacked the power and volume needed of a true town hall organ and was in need of a major overhaul in order for it to reach its full potential.

Rising concern over the years about its lacklustre sound resulted in a decision to undertake a $3.5 million restoration of the organ in 2007.

Auckland City committed $3 million to the project and the balance was raised by the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust.

With over 5300 pipes - the largest being about 10m long and weighing approximately 120kg - the restoration was a significant undertaking.

The restored organ is not just a replica of the original, it's a 21st century instrument in the tradition of the finest concert hall organs, a combination of the best of old and new technology.

The organ will get a good workout by Carlo Curley, who's world-famous for his elegant performances and quick wit. The Decca International artist's delightful informality has attracted a whole new following.

Learn more about Carlo through his website www.carlo.com

Tale wind

Saturday, September 4 at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now with reserved seating. Link for booking tickets is: http://www.the-edge.co.nz/carlocurley.aspx

There is also a free pre-concert talk at 5.45pm with Carlo Curley. This talk is not ticketed, so patrons are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.