Iveta Apkalna: Organ at 70 with Bach
Hear the Royal Festival Hall’s organ at full tilt in a recital of dazzling masterpieces, performed by an acclaimed virtuoso.
Starting and finishing with the sound of Bach at his most magisterial, Iveta Apkalna’s organ playing is set to thrill in this recital.
Experience the wild imaginativeness of Bach’s iconic Toccata and Fugue in D minor, contrasting with austere and mysterious gems of French romanticism in Pierné’s Trois Pièces.
Next comes a set of variations on Paganini’s ubiquitously familiar Caprice No.24 by George Thomas Thalben-Ball &ndash written, extraordinarily, to be played by the feet alone &ndash and a tribute to Bach by that giant of the keyboard, Franz Liszt.
Following the lavishly colourful and richly melodic Suite Gothique by Leon Boëllmann Apkalna returns to Bach ending the concert on a high.
The titular organist of the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, since 2017, Iveta Apkalna has won numerous awards across Germany and her native Latvia.
With a huge repertoire at her fingertips and toes, she rarely performs the same programme twice.
Performers
Iveta Apkalna organ
Repertoire
Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV.565
Pierné: 3 Pièces, Op.29
Thalben-Ball: Variations on a theme of Paganini for organ pedals
Liszt: Prelude and Fugue on the name BACH, S.260
Boëllmann: Suite Gothique, Op.25
Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV.582
Need to know
Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme
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.
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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.