Lunchtime organ recital by Hull City Hall organist Dr Carol Williams on the historic 1911 organ.
Dr Carol Williams takes the bench at Hull City Hall on Wednesday 2 December for the December edition of the Lunchtime Organ Showcase. She's the City Hall Organist, taking over from John Scott Whiteley, so this is one of the first chances to hear her playing the hall's main instrument in a proper recital.
If you're not familiar with the organ itself, it's one of the biggest working ones in the country. It was installed by the local firm Forster and Andrews in 1911 and officially opened with a recital by Edwin Lemare. There are more than 6,000 pipes, roughly 140 stops, and a 64-foot Gravissima that provides the deep end of the sound. Over the years it's played for thousands of people, including Queen Elizabeth and King George VI.
The hall was designed by Joseph Henry Hirst, Hull's first city architect, and took a hit during the 1941 air raids. The organ was restored by the John Compton Organ Company in 1951, with more work by Rushworth and Dreaper between 1985 and 1991. Dr Williams comes to the role with a fair bit of experience behind her: she was appointed the first woman San Diego Civic Organist in 2001 and studied at the Royal Academy of Music, Yale University, and the Manhattan School of Music.
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The showcase runs monthly, so if you miss this one, there'll be another soon. This session starts at 12:30 PM on Wednesday 2 December, with tickets from £5.00.
