World Premiere Recording of Philip Glass' "Prelude For Organ" Live from Notre-Dame De Paris out today in celebration of his 88th birthday

Philip Glass, one of America’s most esteemed composers, today unveils a brand-new organ piece, “Prelude for Organ,” performed by Olivier Latry, titular organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. In cooperation with Fondation Bettencourt Schueller, Philharmonie de Paris and Oleo Films, Dunvagen Music Publishers presents the world premiere recording in celebration of Glass’ 88^th birthday—listen/share on Apple Music HERE and Spotify HERE. The full audiovisual recording will be available on Arte.tv in March 2025.

Glass, who lived in Paris for three years in the 1960s, was moved by the dramatic recent events in Notre-Dame’s history. Prompted by the incredible work around the rebuilding of France’s most famous cathedral, and by the restoration of its organ, Glass composed a new work for the reopening of the church. As part of the Concert to Open 2025, the premiere of “Prelude for Organ” took place on January 7, 2025.

Glass shares, “When I was living in Paris and studying with Nadia Boulanger, I was one person in group of five or six, invited to listen to the organ at Notre-Dame. Boulanger sent us to listen and write down what we heard. We had to figure out what the organist was doing, and Boulanger expected us to do it right. But what we really had to do was understand what the organist was doing. This same organ survived the fire. For the few people who are writing for organ, we can still write for it. And now, we can play it again. What an amazing thing to happen.”

Performed by Olivier Latry, Glass’s new Prelude is an open score of indeterminate length, which Latry treats to the colors of the newly restored organ, whose sound now reverberates in the glorious interior of the rebuilt Notre-Dame. In two contrasting sections – the first more sweet and bucolic, and the second more tempestuous, Latry showcases the expressive power of the Great Organ. The recording engineers for the piece are Gauthier Simon, Nicolas Poitrenaud, Denis Vautrin and Manon Fayard for Oleo Films. The mixing engineer is Gauthier Simon. The producer is Samuel Thiebaut.