Historic Organs of Montréal

The 4-CDs in this set include ten organs built by Casavant 1890-1999, five built by S. R. Warren 1854-1892, four built by Hellmuth Wolff 1973-1993, three built by Guilbault-Thérien 1990-95, three built by Rudolf von Beckerath 1959-61, two built by Mitchell & Forté or Louis Mitchell 1866-1871, and single organs built by William Nutting in 1854, Eusèbe Brodeur in 1898, and Edward Lye in 1910. The playing on these CDs is simply awesome, including Ken Cowan's thrilling Ride of the Valkyries as played on the 1890/1924/1991 Casavant 4m at Notre Dame Basilica. Catherine Todorovski brings the greatest of musical qualities to bear on her entirely ingratiating performance on the smallest organ, a 3-rank Warren organ built in Skudamore style in 1871. Parts of the Montréal Organ Book are played wonderfully by Yves Préfontaine on the very large organ built in 18th-century French classical style by Guilbault-Thérien in the acoustic grandeur of the seminary chapel and Lucienne and Gaston Arel play Spanish works on the more eclectic Guilbault-Thérien at St. Léon.