The series of organ concerts at the Trinitatiskirche during Passion Week continues with one of the most⁣ versatile organ soloists of‍ the younger generation: Michael Bottenhorn. The‍ Bonn-based organist will perform at the Trinitatiskirche on Thursday, March 27th, at 7:30 PM. he has been playing as the age of eleven.‍ Following private lessons and C-level training, he studied church music at the Würzburg University of ⁢Music and organ‍ as‍ a concert subject⁣ at the Stuttgart University⁣ of Music. He ⁢says with a wink,“But as‍ a musician,especially as an organist,the training never really ends.”

A Love⁤ Affair with France⁤ and French Organ Music

bottenhorn’s deep affection for France and⁣ its⁢ organ music is evident. He explains, “The love for France⁤ is not just in the music. As my first trips to France, I have been ‍fascinated by French culture and the way of life. And after I was able to play⁣ an organ by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in ⁣Saint-Etienne Caen for the ⁣first time, my love for ⁢French organ music was born and has remained to this day.”

Since 2012, alongside his intensive concert activities‍ at home and ‍abroad, his professional focus has⁢ been at ⁣St. Joseph’s Church‍ in Bonn-Beuel. There stands a‍ special and large organ, and here instrument and organist seem to have found ‍each other in a⁢ special way: “The strength of the organ in Sankt Josef Bonn is that this organ was a risk in Germany in 1981,‍ but also an absolute ⁢pioneering achievement. this organ is not a real ‍style copy, but bridges the gap into our time, especially with the choir organ and the mobile console. The instrument has a vrey strong personality; it is especially ⁣nice that‍ this organ can also ⁤sing in the mighty tutti. Not many instruments can do that!”

While March 27th marks ⁤Michael Bottenhorn’s first solo organ concert at the Trinitatiskirche, he is already a “musical regular” there. Bottenhorn notes, “My previous concerts in the Trinitatiskirche were in collaboration with cologne concert choirs such as the Bachverein or⁢ the Kartäuserkantorei.I was sometimes an accompanist on the chamber organ, but also ⁤partly accompanying, partly soloing on the ⁢Klais organ. A concert in⁢ May 2023 was particularly lovely, as ‍the electric console was brand new. This enables⁤ very intensive, communal music-making with the⁢ ensembles.”

“An organ Must Be ‍Versatile”

When asked about the character, possibilities, and limitations of the Trinitatiskirche⁤ organ, he responds, “An organ must always ⁣be considered‍ in connection with the ‍space in which it sounds. In the Trinitatiskirche, I⁢ find the Klais organ very well suited to the space. It is a ‘universal‍ organ’ in the best sense.⁤ Given the wide range of music in the Trinitatiskirche, an ⁢organ must also be very ⁤versatile, like good actresses and actors. As I said, the mobile⁣ console at the front is a great asset. The limitations –⁤ if any ‍– lie in the size of the room and the instrument. For ⁤larger works from ⁤the Romantic era or arrangements of orchestral works, a larger palette of foundation stops would be desirable. But this is complaining at an extremely high level, especially since the organ was originally built for a church in Aachen.”

The program is entitled “,Carème’ ⁢– French Music for Passion.” What does this unusual and⁣ not universally understood title mean? “The current church season was the deciding factor. ‘Carème’ is the French term for the period between Ash‍ Wednesday and Easter. Therefore, the title is not⁤ that unusual,” Bottenhorn explains.

The program includes not only virtuosic and beautiful works by Charles-Marie ⁢Widor,Jean Louis Florentz,gabriel Fauré,and Marcel Dupré,but⁣ also an improvisation by Michael Bottenhorn. When asked what kind of music the ⁤audience can look forward to, Bottenhorn diplomatically replies:⁢ “If I‍ could describe it, it would have already moved from the realm of improvisation ⁤to that of composition… ⁣We can‍ look forward to music from the current mood in the concert. everything else will emerge on the concert evening.”

admission to ‍the concert on March 27th is – as always⁢ – free. The exact program of the ⁣organ evening is available in the 2025 program booklet ‍of the Trinitatiskirche.