Renowned concert organist Alexander Ffinch has once again pushed the boundaries of classical music with the release of his latest album, Parallels. Prepare to have your ears juggled by Ffinch’s refreshingly unusual album, which pairs a surprisingly sizzling rendition of Paradise with beautiful, sweeping orchestral movements, deftly intermingling classic with contemporary in a surprising yet likable way. With Parallels, Alexander Ffinch’s ingenuity and creative flair take center stage.
A fusion of head-spinning virtuosity and old-fashioned songcraft propels this album forward, as he veers effortlessly between pyrotechnic displays and sublime melodic sensibility. From the iconic Boëllmann Toccata from Suite Gothique to Holst’s Jupiter, Ffinch’s interpretations breathe new life into these classics. What truly sets him apart is his sublime reworking of Coldplay’s Paradise, an audacious makeover that boldlyRejects the tried-and-true conventions of organ music.
Reflecting on his choice to include contemporary pieces, Ffinch says, “My aim is to communicate to a wide audience. I love the classics, but I also enjoy surprising people with something unexpected, whether it’s a Coldplay song or the Star Wars theme.”
Ffinch’s innovative approach has not gone unnoticed. Tracks from Parallels have been featured extensively on prominent radio stations. BBC Radio 3 has highlighted his performances, with the Elgar Chanson de Matin and Florence Price’s Suite No.1 featured on In Concert and Breakfast programs. On Scala Radio, you’ll frequently catch the shimmering arrangement by Coldplay sitting comfortably alongside its sonic brethren. In the United States, WRR101 FM has aired Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets, and Pipedreams, a show dedicated solely to organ music, is expected to feature the album soon.
What do you get when you fuse classical with modern? For Ffinch, the answer is a deafening roar of approval from both industry insiders and everyday music lovers. With a flair for the dramatic, Alexander Ffinch’s organ concerts pulse with an energy that’s hard to ignore. Whether he’s tackling a classic or pushing the boundaries of innovation, his artistic flair has audiences eating out of the palm of his hand.
School kids get pumped when Ffinch breaks out the Star Wars theme, and classic film buffs are beaming when he revisits Judy Garland’s golden oldie, Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Ffinch proves organ music can captivate anyone, any age, anywhere.
With Parallels, Alexander Ffinch is set to further cement his status as a leading figure in the world of organ music. With irrepressible creativity, he erases artificial divisions, fashioning a style that entrances both aficionados and those just discovering the majestic voice of the organ, leaving lasting impressions.