Saint-Saens' "Danse Macabre" Performed on Pipe Organ

The Piece Chosen by 'Figure Queen' Kim Yuna
Lotte Cultural Foundation's "Organ Series"
Canadian Organist Ken Cowan Takes the Stage

'Figure Queen' Kim Yuna used the orchestral piece "Danse Macabre" by French composer Camille Saint-Saens as the music for her short program during the 2008-2009 season, ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

"Danse Macabre" is a symphonic poem composed by Saint-Saens, inspired by a poem of the same name written by French poet Henri Cazalis. It is a fascinating piece that offers a wide range of colors and ever-changing moods. The violin plays a strange melody symbolizing the devil of death, while the lively waltz music depicts the dance of ghosts. Kim Yuna expressed the dynamic diversity of this piece with her peak skills, winning the gold medal at the 2009 International Skating Union (ISU) World Championships and, riding this momentum, claimed the gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics the following year, securing her place as queen.

On October 14, a stage will be set at Lotte Concert Hall where "Danse Macabre" can be enjoyed as a pipe organ performance.

The Lotte Cultural Foundation announced on the 22nd that it will present this year's second "Organ Series" concert on that day, featuring Canadian organist Ken Cowan performing "Danse Macabre" and other pieces. Cowan is an acclaimed musician known for his brilliant technique and expressive tonal colors. He is especially praised for his organ arrangements of orchestral works, with "Danse Macabre" being one of his signature repertoire pieces.

Organist Ken Cowan
[Photo by Lotte Cultural Foundation, (c)organistkencowan]

In addition to "Danse Macabre," Cowan will perform Bach's "Prelude and Fugue," Wagner's "Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg," and Elgar's "Organ Symphony." The program will also feature works by contemporary composers such as Iain Farrington, Rachel Laurin, and Gunnar Idenstam, promising a rich and varied performance.

Lotte Concert Hall, the first classical concert venue in Korea to install a pipe organ, has introduced organ music through a variety of performances since its opening in 2016. The Organ Series invites renowned organists to deliver the vivid live performances of masters.

Cowan, a leading North American organist, studied under John Weaver at the Curtis Institute of Music and earned his master's degree and Artist Diploma from Yale University. He proved his global reputation by winning the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance in 2020 with the Houston Chamber Choir. He is currently a professor at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Texas, nurturing the next generation of musicians.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.