Guest Artist Interview
with Hector Olivera
I met the legendary Hector Olivera ten years ago and have since been charmed and amazed by this incredibly talented man who shares his organ music with such joy and passion throughout the world. I was very fortunate to spend some time in conversation with Hector last month. My “interview” turned into a conversation about one of Hector’s passions--the varied organs of his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
But first, who is Hector Olivera?
“Maestro Hector Olivera is a passionate, gifted, and unique musician, whose personal interpretations of both classical and popular music have amazed and delighted audiences around the world.” Born in Buenos Aires, Mr. Olivera began playing the pipe organ when he was three. At age five he played for the legendary Eva Perón; at twelve he entered the University of Buenos Aires and by eighteen had performed for heads of state and celebrities throughout Latin America. When offered a scholarship at the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York, he moved to the United States. Three years later, Mr. Olivera’s outstanding professional concert career was launched when he won the AGO's National Improvisation Contest. Mr. Olivera has performed solo concerts throughout the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and Latin America and as guest soloist with prominent symphony orchestras worldwide.
In 1988, after years of performing in the United States, Maestro Olivera was invited to play once again in Argentina. Upon arriving, he was welcomed as a national hero with ‘Standing Room Only’ concerts attended by celebrities and heads of state, as well as featured on national radio and television shows.
The Organ Tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina
In early May 2010, Hector and his wife, Lieve, led a ten-day organ tour to Buenos Aires where Hector played and demonstrated several of his favorite organs.
Hector: “This is one of the few cities in the world where one can see and hear so many good examples of German, English, Italian and French organ building in one place. These are magnificent instruments in magnificent spaces, and all in magnificent shape. I grew up with these organs and by the age of 12 had developed a great understanding of organ registration because of the varying stop nomenclature on these instruments.”
_______________________________
German Style: Steinmeyer, G. F. & Strebel Op. 1518, year 1930
"Nuestra Señora de Luján" Parish
Hector: Starting at the age of 7, I served as the parish organist for ten years. I learned all the major organ works here and became very good with the roller crescendo.Description: Built in 1930 by Steinmeyer House in Germany, the original system was tubular-pneumatic. It was restored in 1996 by Carlos Amandini and Juan Weinhold.
Specification: 2 manuals, 23 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic
Click here to view additional details
Italian Style: Carlo Vegezzi Bossi, Italy, 1910
Basílica de "María Auxiliadora y San Carlos"
Hector: “Using Audsley’s book, (The Art of Organ Building) as a reference, I sometimes skipped school to play this organ and take it apart to better understand how it was built. I learned on this instrument, Bach’s g minor Fantasie and the duBois Toccata after hand copying the music.”
Description: The impressive architecture and the perfect acoustics of this churchhouses an interesting
and beautiful Italian instrument that combines the classical "ripieno" tradition and the romantic orchestral elements developed by Vegezzi Bossi. It was inaugurated in 1911 by virtuoso organist, Luis Ochoa.
Specifications: 3 manuals with Echo Organ, 38 speaking stops, electropneumatic
Click here to view additional detailsFrench Style: Mutin Cavaillé-Coll, 1912
"Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento"
Hector: “I played this organ as a young man and served as the assistant organist here for six months in the 1960s.”
Description: Mrs. Mercedes Anchorena, a rich woman who lived in Buenos Aires, traveled to Paris to purchase this Cavaillé-Coll organ. The large and lavish organ was inaugurated in 1915 with Charles Mutin in attendance. TheToccata of the 5th Symphony by Charles Widor was played in that occasion.
Current specification: 4 manuals, 71 speaking stops, electropneumaitc, slider windchest.
Click here to view additional details
with Hector Olivera
I met the legendary Hector Olivera ten years ago and have since been charmed and amazed by this incredibly talented man who shares his organ music with such joy and passion throughout the world. I was very fortunate to spend some time in conversation with Hector last month. My “interview” turned into a conversation about one of Hector’s passions--the varied organs of his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
But first, who is Hector Olivera?
“Maestro Hector Olivera is a passionate, gifted, and unique musician, whose personal interpretations of both classical and popular music have amazed and delighted audiences around the world.” Born in Buenos Aires, Mr. Olivera began playing the pipe organ when he was three. At age five he played for the legendary Eva Perón; at twelve he entered the University of Buenos Aires and by eighteen had performed for heads of state and celebrities throughout Latin America. When offered a scholarship at the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York, he moved to the United States. Three years later, Mr. Olivera’s outstanding professional concert career was launched when he won the AGO's National Improvisation Contest. Mr. Olivera has performed solo concerts throughout the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and Latin America and as guest soloist with prominent symphony orchestras worldwide.
In 1988, after years of performing in the United States, Maestro Olivera was invited to play once again in Argentina. Upon arriving, he was welcomed as a national hero with ‘Standing Room Only’ concerts attended by celebrities and heads of state, as well as featured on national radio and television shows.
The Organ Tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina
In early May 2010, Hector and his wife, Lieve, led a ten-day organ tour to Buenos Aires where Hector played and demonstrated several of his favorite organs.
Hector: “This is one of the few cities in the world where one can see and hear so many good examples of German, English, Italian and French organ building in one place. These are magnificent instruments in magnificent spaces, and all in magnificent shape. I grew up with these organs and by the age of 12 had developed a great understanding of organ registration because of the varying stop nomenclature on these instruments.”
_______________________________
German Style: Steinmeyer, G. F. & Strebel Op. 1518, year 1930
"Nuestra Señora de Luján" Parish
Hector: Starting at the age of 7, I served as the parish organist for ten years. I learned all the major organ works here and became very good with the roller crescendo.Description: Built in 1930 by Steinmeyer House in Germany, the original system was tubular-pneumatic. It was restored in 1996 by Carlos Amandini and Juan Weinhold.
Specification: 2 manuals, 23 speaking stops, electro-pneumatic
Click here to view additional details
Italian Style: Carlo Vegezzi Bossi, Italy, 1910
Basílica de "María Auxiliadora y San Carlos"
Hector: “Using Audsley’s book, (The Art of Organ Building) as a reference, I sometimes skipped school to play this organ and take it apart to better understand how it was built. I learned on this instrument, Bach’s g minor Fantasie and the duBois Toccata after hand copying the music.”
Description: The impressive architecture and the perfect acoustics of this churchhouses an interesting
and beautiful Italian instrument that combines the classical "ripieno" tradition and the romantic orchestral elements developed by Vegezzi Bossi. It was inaugurated in 1911 by virtuoso organist, Luis Ochoa.
Specifications: 3 manuals with Echo Organ, 38 speaking stops, electropneumatic
Click here to view additional detailsFrench Style: Mutin Cavaillé-Coll, 1912
"Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento"
Hector: “I played this organ as a young man and served as the assistant organist here for six months in the 1960s.”
Description: Mrs. Mercedes Anchorena, a rich woman who lived in Buenos Aires, traveled to Paris to purchase this Cavaillé-Coll organ. The large and lavish organ was inaugurated in 1915 with Charles Mutin in attendance. TheToccata of the 5th Symphony by Charles Widor was played in that occasion.
Current specification: 4 manuals, 71 speaking stops, electropneumaitc, slider windchest.
Click here to view additional details