Press Notices

NEW YORK CITY "Simon Preston proved the ideal performer: it was hard to imagine that anyone could have displayed the mighty Skinner instrument of St. Bartholomew's Church more fully and effectively."

LOS ANGELES "BRITISH VIRTUOSO CLOSES ORGAN SERIES IN STYLE….closing the series’ 30^th season in spectacular fashion."

WASHINGTON "He is quite evidently a polished master of the king of instruments, and a superbly sensitive musician to boot."

CHICAGO "Preston is an artist of remarkable musicality and accomplishment."

MIAMI "Technically, Mr. Preston is one of the strongest virtuoso organ performers we have ever heard. He is apparently afraid of no work, however formidable, and can do anything he likes with the manuals and pedals, and at any tempo. The church was completely filled - surely evidence of the listener's advance knowledge of Mr. Preston's quality as an artist."

HOUSTON "ENGLISH ORGANIST IS SUPERB."

Houston Chronicle

SAN FRANCISCO "....a virtuoso, but more importantly, a fine artist of superior musicianship on every count ....an inordinately interesting selection of repertory....flawless sense of style."

CLEVELAND "English organist Simon Preston performed with brilliant virtuosity...."

CINCINNATI "Simon Preston's recital at Christ Church can only be described as enthralling."

ST. LOUIS "His technical accomplishment was never in question; his musicality animated a difficult program and made it interesting throughout."

KANSAS CITY "Mr. Preston's program was a model of its kind, and his playing was absolutely thrilling."

SHREVEPORT "After hearing Simon Preston play, we can readily understand why he has been termed by British critics as perhaps the most brilliant of his generation of organists."

TORONTO "Superlatives seem the only logical commentary on Preston's performance."

LONDON "The main enjoyment of the evening came from two of the qualities that have already made Mr. Preston one of our leading organists: his apparently complete mastery of any organ he lays hands on, and his musicianly ability to use so versatile an instrument as this to its full potential."

J. S. Bach: The Organ Works (Deutsche Gramophon)

"….a star performer of the world stage, possessed of little short of a genius for feeling the
current of the rhythm."

Organists' Review

Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under James Levine:

"....the balance between the orchestra and organ, here played so powerfully by Simon Preston, is well judged....the organ entry in the finale is quite magnificent, the excitement of Preston thundering out the main theme physical in its impact....yet absolutely clear and clean in focus."

The Gramophone (London)

Poulenc Organ Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa:

"....a warm, sumptuous orchestral accompaniment, with just a hint of acerbity in the strings, provides an appropriate backdrop for Simon Preston's incisive, vigorous playing."

The Times of London

Bach for Deutsche Grammophon:

"Charismatic Bach playing of quite another order comes via DG and Simon Preston, whose highly regarded Bach series is now roughly a third of the way through, inspiring the release of a boxed set devoted to the five discs issued so far, plus one that's new - the Trio Sonatas (439 201-2GX6). The Organ Concertos are included, as is the Orgelbüchlein on a single CD, the Schübler Chorales and various of the larger pieces, including the Toccatas and Fugues in F and D minor and the Passacaglia. Various instruments have been used, all being of high quality, the recordings are exemplary and the playing superlative."

The Gramophone (1/94)