Organist Cameron Carpenter Makes Houston Debut Tonight at Christ Church Cathedral

Described as having the dazzling technique and "wild passion" of Vladimir Horowitz, the footwork of Fred Astaire and the glam sensibility of David Bowie, renegade organist Cameron Carpenter will make his Houston debut tonight, April 10, at 8 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral (1117 Texas Avenue), presented by Society for the Performing Arts.

A virtuoso composer-performer unique among keyboardists, Carpenter's approach to the organ is smashing the stereotypes of organists and organ music while generating a level of acclaim, exposure and controversy unprecedented for an organist. His repertoire - from the complete works of J. S. Bach and Cesar Franck, to his hundreds of transcriptions of non-organ works, his original compositions, and his collaborations with jazz and pop artists - is perhaps the largest and most diverse of any organist.

Carpenter's flawless technique and intrinsic musicality have won over critics and audiences alike, while his inborn knack for showmanship has galvanized the famously staid organ world. The first organist ever nominated for a GRAMMY Award for a solo album (for his 2008 Telarc disc Revolutionary), he was recently awarded the prestigious Leonard Bernstein Prize at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in northern Germany.

From his current home base in Berlin, he has filled concert halls across the globe from Moscow to Munich, Sydney to San Francisco. His custom-made shoes, eye-catching designer attire and theatrical staging provide a visual reflection of his ear-bending takes on everything from Bach and Franck to Rufus Wainwright and George Gershwin. While Mozart revered the organ as "the king of instruments," Carpenter's view of it is decidedly more whimsical: a "glittering emotion machine."

Tickets are $40 for general admission seating and can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713-227-4772 or at the courtyard level ticket office at Jones Hall located at 615 Louisiana St. Hours of operation: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday. For groups of 15 or more call 713-632-8113.

Founded in 1966, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is the largest independent non-profit presenting organization in the Southwest. Since its inception, SPA has sponsored more than 1,000 performances of the world's finest music, dance and theater events, in adherence to the belief that the arts are fundamental to the overall enrichment and quality of life within the community. In addition to presenting artists, SPA seeks to provide a variety of learning experiences for adults and children through master classes, lectures and special student performances, as well as build relationships between the performing arts and other interests within the greater Houston area and throughout the state of Texas.

Photo Credit: Heiko Laschitzki

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