The official organist of the Royal Albert Hall, Anna Lapwood, is renowned for breaking down genre boundaries and introducing a huge new audience to the organ.

At Bristol Beacon last week she played Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ as well as Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No.3 in C Minor, to much applause. Seen and Heard International said “Lapwood […] took us on a journey through the work [Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ] that lingers in the memory”.

Principal Guest Conductor, Chloé Van Soeterstède, conducted the all-French concert which included Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps; a piece which depicts a bright and carefree spring morning. Chloe described the piece as “spring-like and colourful”.

Lili Boulanger, was a musical genius, who at age 19 became the first woman to win France’s most prestigious prize for composers, the Prix de Rome. Tragically, her life was cut short in her early twenties, after a life plagued by chronic illness.

Principal Guest Conductor, Chloe, says, “I think we need to perform Lili Boulanger’s music more.”

The performance of D’un matin de printemps was praised by Seen and Heard International who said, “Van Soeterstède and the orchestra made us listen to everything, drawing us into the music’s brief but entrancing imaginary world.”

Chloe Van Soeterstède said “Performing at Bristol Beacon with the BSO was a highlight of my season: the energy and dedication every musician gave was outstanding, and matched the perfection of the hall. I will also keep in close memory working with Anna Lapwood to put into the best light Poulenc’s Organ Concerto. What an evening this was!”

To find out more about what we’ve got coming up next season click here. Chloé will perform Lili Boulanger’s D’un Soir Triste 14 April in Poole and on 20 April in Basingstoke.

The performance of D’un matin de printemps is made possible with funding from the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme, a ten-year initiative to support the performance and promotion of music by historical women composers.