| Jonathan Hall Plays to Packed Houses in Russia |
| Jonathan Hall was in Russia during the last week of January, 2005. During that time, he played a children's organ recital and a major evening concert in Khabarovsk, on the Chinese border in the Russian Far East. He also played on the dedication series of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, in the presence of dignitaries including the US Ambassador and Mrs. Vershbow, as well as a packed house, from which hundreds were turned away. Some of the highest leadership of the Orthodox Church was in attendance as well. The reception was quite lively and fascinating! Hall also gave interviews to two television stations and two major newspapers, and was greeted with warm and sustained applause at every occasion. He also gave a memorable day-long masterclass for Professor Fiseisky at the Gniessen Institute in Moscow, whose large, youthful, and polyglot organ class had him coaching in English, French, German, and using all three of his Russian words! (He did not get to coach in Esperanto.) It is impossible to describe the feelings that such a successful trip will bring--along with the jet lag and many adjustments to new languages and cultures!--but the memory persists of a visit that was both personally and professionally deeply satisfying. The Russian people love the music of the pipe organ, and are going to church in droves. May these happy trends continue. |
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