Twenty-three-year-old German organ virtuoso Felix Hell gave two concerts over the weekend in the recital hall of Concordia's Music Center. The performances were part of a year-long series of dedicatory concerts for the newly installed recital hall organ, Opus 3868 from Casavant Frères.
A liturgical organist since the age of eight, Hell has performed extensively in his native Germany and around the world, including over 400 recitals in 44 states in the U.S. Five years ago he taught a class to Concordia organ students to rave reviews.
"When we were planning our inaugural season for the Casavant organ and were thinking about a guest artist to invite, Felix Hell was the very first name on my list," explained Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, Concordia professor of music. "He is not only a phenomenal musician with extreme virtuosity; he is also able to relate to our students in a manner that is informative and inspiring."
Hell's program included a variety of styles to demonstrate the versatility of the new organ.
Hell is the distinguished Organist in Residence at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa. and an organ instructor at the Sunderman Conservatory.
The concert was sponsored by the Jones National Bank and Trust Fine Arts Series.