Cherry Rhodes - Cherry Rhodes at the Kimmel Center (2010)

Cherry Rhodes, one of our era’s outstanding concert organists, performs a festive inaugural recital on this splendid new instrument in Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. Her program is beautifully planned to introduce the instrument and its wide range of colors. The recorded sound is clear, warm and dimensional. The playing itself has the kind of excitement a great artist can achieve in a live performance. This varied program is expertly paced to keep the live audience mesmerized. It works that way for CD listeners, too, and only occasionally, when applause breaks out for instance, does one even remember that there is a rapt audience present. It is no wonder that this remarkable American artist has been asked to do the inaugural performances on many important instruments and in many major settings. Her biography reads like a concert organist’s fantasy – or wildest dream – of accomplishments and accolades. From a young age, she has been performing all over the world with legendary conductors, in fabled cathedrals and in the most prestigious concert halls. She also conducts master classes, and mentors gifted young organists who themselves are winning top competitions. She is currently Professor of Organ at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.