Naji Hakim returns to the Signum label with a collection of his own works for organ. As both an organist and a composer, Lebanese-born Naji Hakim has distinguished himself as one of the most active artists of his generation. A virtuosic performer, who succeeded Olivier Messiaen as organist at l’eglise de la Trinite in Paris, many of his works draw on his own Christian beliefs (in 2007 hw eas honoured with a Papal award for his services to the church). The works are recorded on the new van den Heuvel organ of the Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen (opened in 2009). Praise for Naji’s last recording on Signum (The Organ of Glenalmond College - SIG 130): "For all that one is used to Hakim’s coruscating brilliance, the sheer technical skill and white-hot intensity of the Hakim imagination in blending these dirge-like themes into music left this Scotsman duly open mouthed." - Graham Kay - Choir & Organ Magazine, December 2008
"...Hakim’s spiritual exuberance is expressed in harmonically ear-tickling music which sings and dances, accelerating, in his inimitably breathless toccatas, to the insane-sounding speeds of whirling dervishes..." ****
Graeme Kay - Choir & Organ - July/August 2011
"...I regard this as an important recording and I recommend it unreservedly ..."
Robert Matthew-Walker - International Record Review - April 2011
