On October 8th organist Eric Plutz presented an all-Vierne concert at First United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois. The concert, held on Vierne’s 151st birthday, included symphonies 2 and 6 as well as two of the “Pièces de Fantaisie,” Op. 53. Plutz prepared comprehensive program notes that led the audience through the well-paced and expertly-played program. This program is part of a series of performances in Plutz’s “Vierne Project” intended to celebrate Vierne’s sesquicentennial that came to fruition after a one-year delay due to the pandemic.
Plutz, University Organist at Princeton University, shared that the project involved a decade of preparation as he learned one symphony every two years. The concert was co-sponsored by FUMC Evanston and the North Shore chapter and marked the first in-person concert for both organizations since March 2020.
– Submitted by Brian Schoettler