Evan Lawrence, Pettman Organ Scholar of the London Oratory, performs a richly curated programme for Maundy Thursday that weaves together cornerstones of the organ repertoire with visionary works of the 19th and 20th centuries.
JS Bach’s monumental Fantasia and Fugue in C minor frames a contemplative landscape that includes Parry’s deeply moving Chorale Fantasia, Bach’s timeless O Mensch, the narrative reflections of Judith Bingham’s Emmaus-inspired pieces, and Tournemire’s soaring improvisation on Victimae Paschali laudes.
A compelling exploration of faith, transformation, and musical imagination.
“In constructing this programme for a Maundy Thursday Organ Recital during Sinfonia Smith Square’s Easter Festival, I sought to explore the ways in which composers coming from a wide range of contexts have interpreted this most tumultuous and pivotal time in the church’s calendar. The organ and its music have always had strong links with religious customs and celebrations, and the musical responses to Christianity’s most profound journey, from the darkness of Lent into the joy of Easter, by composers divided by time and place, can represent a spiritual experience on many levels, showing us that however music evolves, its ability to express humanity’s deepest emotions across barriers remains constant.”
Evan Lawrence
As well as being an accomplished organist, Evan is also a gifted violinist and is currently a member of the 2025/26 Sinfonia Smith Square Fellowship Orchestra. Find out more about Evan below.
