Organ at 70: Ourania Gassiou & Eleni Keventsidou
The Greek goddesses of the organ world, Ourania Gassiou and Eleni Keventsidou, team up at the Royal Festival Hall organ to celebrate its 70th birthday year.
Gassiou pairs the solemnity of Franck’s second Choral with the ebullience of Cochereau’s Scherzo symphonique from his 12 Pieces; Keventsidou offers Liszt’s elegiac Funérailles and two of Reger’s most dramatic and virtuosic works from his Op.65.
Their programme culminates with a performance of Kenneth Leighton’s powerful duet, Martyrs. Its closely argued thematic material blooms into a stunning rock-like statement of the majestic dorian theme, which calls into play almost all the instrument’s 7,866 pipes, using four hands and four feet.
The concert organ is the jewel in the crown of the the Southbank Centre’s architecture and its influence is extensive: legendary organist Pierre Cochereau was one of the first to perform at on the new Royal Festival Hall organ in 1956; Liszt’s work was arranged by Nicolas Kynaston — a regular performer on the Royal Festival Hall’s organ over many decades; and Leighton’s monumental work was performed to great acclaim on this organ in 1981 by the Cleobury brothers.
Performers
Ourania Gassiou organ
Eleni Keventsidou organ
Repertoire
Bach: Allegro from Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F arr. Reger for keyboard (4 hands)
Franck: Choral No.2 in B minor
Cochereau: Scherzo symphonique
Liszt: Funérailles from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S.173 arr. Nicolas Kynaston for organ
Reger: Rhapsodie in C sharp minor, Op.65 No.1
Reger: Toccata in E minor, Op.65 No.11
Leighton: Martyrs - dialogues on a Scottish psalm tune for organ duet, Op.73
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.