The Movies at Chelmsford Cathedral

[Chris Woollard]

On the evening of May 10th Donald MacKenzie, resident organist of the Odeon Leicester Square, accompanied two silent film classics on the dual Mander organs of this wonderfully intimate cathedral, this event being part of the first centenary festival.

 

The evening was quite magnificent, a real tour de force display of the art of the cinema organist. The colours and dynamic range employed supported the film perfectly, by far the most accomplished film organ performance I have attended in a great while. The organs themselves proved superb for this type of music making.

 

These days projection at such events is very easy to set up and worked very well on the evening. I wish other great churches would follow suit - we have the instruments and the talent. The cathedral staff were fantastic also. Donald played from the console of the chancel organ, where the screen was erected. Having such fine organs in front of and behind the audience was fully exploited.

 

Best night I have had at the movies for years.