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Olivier Vernet
concert organist
Titular Organist, Monaco Cathedral
Professor of Organ, Nice Conservatory, France,
and Professor of Organ,
Academy of Music Rainier III, Monaco
08/09 Season Tour Periods:
2008: October 24 through November 9
2009: April 17 through May 3
"Olivier Vernet is a formidable performer...always accurate, musical, and satisfying."
(The American Organist)
"Vernet's playing is quite exciting and well-schooled...excellent articulation,
registration, tempi, and ornamentation, and technique to spare." (Continuo)
"Vernet's impressive skill allows him the freedom to play anything-not just anyone could pull off this set of playful [dance] pieces...flawless technique....He was having way too much fun....Vernet's joyous, devil-may-care performance made it hard not to smile....Grandiose and virtuosic...In the hands of a master like Vernet, the wonderful Casavant [organ] came to life and together, Vernet and this organ provided a very special afternoon of unusual entertainment."
(Gwenda Nemerofsky, for the Winnipeg Free Press, Canada)
French organist Olivier Vernet became Titular Organist of Monaco Cathedral in 2006, after his selection in an international competition for the post. He is also Professor of Organ at the Nice Conservatory in France, and in Monaco at the Academy of Music Rainier III. He is artistic Director of the Monaco International Organ Festival and the Organ Festival of Mougins.
He is a native of Vichy where for fifteen years he served as Co-Titular Organist of the Church of St. Louis with its famous Bernard Aubertin organ. He was unanimously awarded First Prize at the U.F.A.M. International competition in Paris in 1984, and in 1991 was the First Prize winner at the International Organ Competition in Bordeaux.
Olivier Vernet has recorded more than 65 commercial CDs including the complete organ works of J.S. Bach, Bruhns, Buxtehude, Clérambault, Couperin, Hanff, Kneller, Liszt, and the complete concertos for organ and orchestra of C.P.E. Bach, Corrette, and Haydn. He has recorded the 2, 3 and 4 keyboard concertos of Bach jointly with Marie-Claire Alain. His recordings have received numerous honors including Le Grand Prix de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque and the Grand Prix de l'Académie des Beaux-Arts.
His performances throughout Europe as well as in the United States have included appearances with the Jacques Moderne Ensemble, the Matheus Ensemble, the Lachrimae Consort, the Auvergne Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Lyon, and others, including his own ensemble "In Ore Mel" which explores the 17th and 18th century vocal and instrumental literature.
His own study of the organ included work with Gaston Litaize at the French National Regional Conservatory in St. Maur des Fossés where he earned five Gold Medals and the Concert Diploma with honors. He studied with Marie Claire Alain at the French National Regional Conservatory in Rueil Malmaison where he was awarded the First Prize for Virtuosity from a unanimous jury. He also won first Prize in Organ at the Paris Conservatory in the class of Michel Chapuis.
"I wish to thank you for another tremendous performer from your roster. Olivier Vernet was spectacular, thrilling the audience with his technique and musicianship. His personality shows through in his performance. He is truly a superb performer." (Dale Tucker, First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne IN, presenter)
"He made the organ sing in an apotheosis of glory....altogether a remarkable performance....Latin [dance] music on the pipe organ is hard to bring off rhythmically...but [the] lyrical moments sang sweetly, and the dance rhythms delighted with their cleverness....Vernet's interpretation put a smile on everyone's face." (Halifax Chronicle, Canada, 2008)
"An unrivalled organist of dazzling virtuosity...Olivier Vernet makes the organ dance."
(La Marseillaise, France)
"Vernet's vision left us overwhelmed by so much strength and energy, but also such tenderness. Vernet brings together the ardor of youth with wise maturity."
(Classica, France)
"He can approach any repertoire period with the same elegance and fluidity."
(Le Monde de la Musique, France)
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