Isabelle Demers: Bach, Stravinsky & Brahms
Isabelle Demers uncovers every nuance of the organ’s power and colour, closing with Brahms’ Romantic masterpiece, the Variations and fugue on a theme by Handel.
Demers is known for her fearless programming and dazzling technique, matched by a deep understanding of her instrument’s immense expressive range.
Her performances reveal the organ’s colours and sonic capabilities at their most ground-shakingly powerful – and also their most intimate.
Demers opens her eclectic recital with Bach’s classic Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch, which transform a simple seasonal hymn into a work of captivating complexity and growing grandeur.
Demers’ own arrangement of the graceful Gavotte from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella sits alongside the dark energy of Alkan’s Grand prélude. Rachel Laurin’s Sweelinck Variations gaze back four centuries to reimagine the Renaissance Dutch master in the vivid sounds of today.
After Flor Peeters’ majestic Toccata, fugue et hymne sur Ave maris stella, Demers closes her concert with Rachel Laurin’s organ reimagining of Brahms’ Variations and fugue on a theme by Handel.
Originally conceived for piano, this milestone in Romantic music is reborn in brilliant colours and contrapuntal power.
Performers
Isabelle Demers organ
Repertoire
Bach: Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her, BWV.769
Stravinsky: Gavotte with 2 variations from Pulcinella Suite arr. Demers for organ
Alkan: Grand prélude in G minor, Op.66 No.4
Rachel Laurin: Sweelinck Variations, Op.96
Interval
Flor Peeters: Toccata, fugue et hymne sur Ave maris stella, Op.28
Brahms: 25 Variations and fugue on a theme by Handel, Op.24 arr. Laurin for organ
Need to know
Reviews
‘Demers’ playing amounted to unalloyed musical joy’ClevelandClassical.com
‘Demers made the instrument sing’Classicalsource.com
‘Bracing virtuosity’Chicago Classical Review
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
23 Jan 2027, 7pm
Run time
1 hour and 45 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £23 + £4 booking fee
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
Concessions
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Multi-buy Autumn/Winter 26/27 discount
3 – 4 events: 10% discount
5 – 7 events: 15% discount
8 – 10 events: 20% discount
11 – 14 events: 25% discount
15+ events: 30% discount
Discounts apply to selected events, September 2026 – January 2027 inclusive. Offer can’t be combined with the Spring/Summer 2026 multi-buy.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
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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.
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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.