Olivier Vernet

Olivier Vernet – Franck: 12 Pièces pour grand orgue (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 02:22:31 minutes | 2,16 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Ligia

César Franck’s studies in Liège concentrated mostly on musical training (musical theory, harmony and counterpoint), restricting his instrumental study to the piano alone. However, when he entered the Paris Conservatoire he broadened his horizons to study the organ. While studying in François Benoist’s class, he did not develop a very self-confident technique (furthermore, the organ pedalboard was limited to twenty pedals and did not allow for the performance of the classic repertoire). However, to his great benefit, he forged a complete career as an improviser; a field in which he excelled until his final years. This course began in 1819 and was intended to train liturgical organists. Above all, it focused on the treatment of plainsong, fugue and freeform themes, and it was not before 1852 that performance of a written piece was required. Against this background, the young musician only learned about performance in a very self-taught way. So, in 1872, when he himself was teaching at the Conservatoire, his approach to Bach did not concern itself with style or technique, reducing his aspirations to a performance which Vierne himself called rather rudimentary, being, “in time and without mistakes.”
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Olivier Vernet – Apprentis sorciers (L’esprit symphonique français) (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:11:19 minutes | 1,21 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Ligia

Olivier Vernet studied organ with Gaston Litaize at the Conservatoire National de Région in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, where he earned his concert diploma with honors. At the Conservatoire National de Région in Rueil Malmaison, he studied with Marie-Claire Alain, and continued his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with Michel Chapuis. For 15 years Vernet played the organ at L’église Saint-Louis in Vichy, then in 2006 was named organist of the Cathedral of Monaco. Vernet has maintained an active career as a recitalist, playing in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States. He has appeared with many ensembles, including the Ensemble Jacques Moderne, the Matheus Ensemble, the Lachrimae Consort, the Orchestre l’Auvergne, Les Sauvages, and La Simphonie du Marais, and he founded the early music group Ensemble…In Ore Mel…. Vernet is the organ professor at both the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Tours and the Academie de Musique Rainier III of Monaco, and he teaches at the Conservatoire National à Rayonnement Régional de Musique in Nice. He serves as artistic director of the Monaco International Organ Festival and the Organ Festival of Mougins. Vernet is a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He records extensively on the Ligia label.

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Olivier Vernet – Apocalypse (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:09:22 minutes | 619 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Ligia

Olivier Vernet’s outstanding career has confirmed the hopes raised by the numerous awards he received over the course of his studies with Gaston Litaize at the Conservatoire National de Région in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Marie-Claire Alain at the Conservatoire National de Région in Rueil Malmaison, and Michel Chapuis in the class where he won first prize for organ at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris.

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