Présentation Toulouse Les Orgues

TOULOUSE INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITION : PRESENTATION

/// Presentation

This competition, founded in 1981 by Xavier Darasse (1934 – 1992), is an invitation to young talented organists to showcase the rich organ heritage of Toulouse.
The idea is unique and original: each candidate draws up a concert programme for the organ of his or her choice and plays excerpts from it during the various selection rounds. The competition is designed to encourage the creation of artistically coherent programmes, chosen to match a given instrument, and also to showcase the organ’s potential for appeal to a wider audience.

/// THE COMPETITION IS QUITE ORIGINAL:

1 Competitors are free to choose the instrument on which they will perform, as well as the musical programme.

2 Selection will be based primarily on the artistic quality of the musical performance, and of the proposed programme.

3 The concerts by the finalists are an integral part of the International Toulouse les Orgues Festival.

4 There are considerable opportunities for rehearsing beforehand.

5 Funding is available for contestants to cover their travel and accommodation costs.

© Bruce Morillon – Toulouse Magazine

Competitors can choose the organ on which they would like to perform with, in one of the following categories:

• “Baroque Organ” Category: the organs of the Musée des Augustins or the Church of Saint-Pierre des Chartreux

• “Symphonic Organ” Category: the organs of the Basilica of St-Sernin or the church of ND de la Dalbade

• “XXth Century Organ” Category: the organs of the Cathedral of St-Etienne or the organs of the Dominican Convent

/// The 2024 Toulouse International Organ Competition will reward three performers, with one winner in each of the three categories.

/// Information on technical and sound characteristics on request by email: concoursdarasse@toulouse-les-orgues.org

THE PROGRAMME

When registering, each candidate will propose a programme for a 45-minutes recital of music he or she has prepared for one of the competition organs, i.e. in one of the categories mentioned above.

If a candidate applies for more than one category, he or she will be required to create a programme for each category chosen. A maximum of 15 minutes of music may be shared between the two programmes.

The programme for the competition is entirely free.

However, the candidate must take the following criteria into account:

• The programme must be conceived with a view to artistic and musical coherence. This coherence can be stylistic or thematic.

• The programme must be designed for the chosen organ in such a way as to give the fullest possible expression to the organ’s capacities, as well as the music.

• Any musical style is acceptable. Non-classical music and improvisations are accepted but must not exceed 15 minutes over the entire programme. Transcriptions will be accepted with no time limit.

© Bruce Morillon – Toulouse Magazine

Prizes and concerts

The winner in each category will be awarded:

• A single prize of €4000

• Concerts in the cities belonging to the ECHO network
for the winner of the “Baroque Organ” category.

• A Concert at the Festival international Toulouse les Orgues 2025
for one of the finalists of the “Symphonic organ” category, who will receive the “Audience Choice Award”

• A Concert at Orgelherbst (Hamburg) for one of the finalists of the “XXth century Organ” category,
who will receive the “Audience Choice Award”