Organ Concert: James Anderson-Besant

James Anderson-Besant returns to Gloucester Cathedral on Wednesday 18 November for an organ recital in the Nave. It's a bit of a homecoming for him: he was the cathedral's Organ Scholar from 2016 to 2017, and he's now Director of Music at Truro Cathedral, so this is a return to the organ he knows well.

The evening is built around 20th-century French organ music, broken up by some of the more familiar names from the earlier repertoire. On the French side, he's playing Jean Françaix's Deux préludes profanes and Fantasmagorie, alongside Guillou's Toccata, op. 9 and Duruflé's Prélude et fugue sur le nom d'Alain, op. 7 — that last one is a tribute to fellow composer Jean Alain, whose name also appears in the programme. Between those, he'll be weaving in Mozart's Fantasia in F minor (K. 608), Byrd's Fantasia in A minor, and J.S. Bach's Ricercare a 6 and Sarabande.

One thing that sets this apart from a standard recital is the pre-concert talk. It starts at 7.15pm, half an hour before the music begins, and is designed to set the scene for the programme. If you're not that familiar with 20th-century French organ music, it's a good way to get your bearings before the first note sounds.

Doors open at 6.45pm, the talk is at 7.15pm, and the concert runs from 7.45pm to 9pm. Tickets are £15 for adults and £8 for young persons, with children under 16 free when accompanying a fee-paying adult. The recital takes place in the Nave of Gloucester Cathedral, 12 College Green, GL1 2LX.