Favourable review of 'Trocadéro'
Amsterdam, Tue, 23. Dec 2003 — In the Dutch paper 'De Volkskrant' of 11th December 2003 Van Doeselaar's new CD is highly praised for his splendid interpretation of 19th century French organ music, excellently recorded at that.
"According to some experts real organ music does not sound outside the church," writes Jaco Mijnheer in his review. "'Nonsense,' says Leo van Doeselaar, private organist of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and on the CD 'Trocadéro' he shows why he says so.
On the Maarschalkerweerd-organ of the Concertgebouw Van Doeselaar plays pieces that were performed at the end of the 19th century by organ giants like Widor, Saint-Saëns and Franck on the huge organ of the new-built Palais du Trocadéro. So we hear items like Liszt's birdsong, triumphant blare by Widor and Guilmant, but also a more intimate composition by the Dutchman Samuel de Lange jr.
The splendid registration does full justice to the colourful, varied sound and the extreme deep basses of the organ, while as regards dynamics, tempi and articulation the concert-hall appears to offer more possibilities than a church.
"L'orgue, c'est mon orchestre" (The organ is my orchestra), said César Franck, and every one who listens to this CD will know exactly what he meant by that."