The XIII International Organ Festival starts with a great recital by Juan Paradell

The first concert of the XIII Benidorm International Organ Festival started with great success with the recital offered by the prestigious organist Juan Paradell Solé in the church of San Jaime, which was full. Paradell is the organist emeritus of the liturgical celebrations of the Pope in the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican and organist of the Pontifical musical chapel ‘Sistine’.

This first concert began at 8 pm and its programme included ‘Toccata and Fugue in D minor’ by Johan Sebastian Bach, ‘Prelude, Fugue and Variation’ by César Franck, the ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (from the Nutcracker ballet suite) by Tchaïkovsky, ‘Hornpipe humoresque’ by Noel Rawsthorne, ‘Images de Paris’ by Julien Bret and ‘Toccata (from Symphony number 5) by Charles-Marie Widor.

Juan Paradell began his studies in Barcelona and in 1973 moved to Barcelona to study organ and composition with professor Monsignor Valentí Miserachs. He has an immense agenda and has participated in important international organ festivals.

The XIII Benidorm International Organ Festival will offer eight concerts this year, which will take place on the last Friday of each month from January to May and from October to December. This last month, however, the concert will be on Saturday 13th.