The organ has been regarded as an orchestra from its earliest beginnings, and over the years many composers have transposed vocal and orchestral works for the instrument.

On that evening in Paris, the mikes were on – to conclude a partnership between the Arte Flamenco Festival and Scala Music – but above all, they were awaiting ‘elevation’, the “duende” (a heightened state of expression or emotion) which played its part in the jam-packed auditorium. Rafael Riqueni performed his entire body of work, spanning almost forty years of composition, presented chronologically. The man, who did not get up once during his recital, brought people to tears, left expressive periods of silence, stirred up memories, and astonished the audience with some virtuosic flourishes. Without the instrument of his life leaving his embrace, Rafael Riqueni had not yet finished. The three encores opened up a never-ending world as if he were only halfway down the track, ready to turn the next corner. Único!

Jean Doyen was a French classical pianist, pedagogue and composer. Doyen is best known for his interpretations of 19th and 20th century French music, notably in the works of Gabriel Pierné, Reynaldo Hahn and Vincent d'Indy and is considered one of the great interpreters of this repertoire and above all, of Maurice Ravel and Gabriel Fauré. He also enjoyed playing Vincent d'Indy's Fantaisie sur un vieil air de ronde française and Samazeuilh's Trois Danses. However, he recorded Chopin's waltzes, and premiered the Variations sur un thème de Don Juan.

Renowned Danish composer and pianist, Frans Bak, unveils his latest project, the ballads album 'Softer Than You Know', on Storyville Records, marking a nostalgic return to his musical origins. It's a collection of 10 songs featuring lyrics by Helle Hansen, performed by the internationally acclaimed vocalist Sinne Eeg. Bak describes the album as a fusion between jazz and pop, offering laid-back melodies and ample room for musical exploration. Recorded with a stellar line up, including Thomas Vang on bass, Emil de Waal on drums paired with contributions from American guitarist Peter Sprague, saxophonists Hans Ulrik and Fredrik Lundin, 'Softer Than You Know' promises to enchant listeners with its soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. During the 80's and 90's, Bak's career fourished as he balanced his roles as a pianist, bandleader and composer. He collaborated with Danish artists such as Trine Dyrholm, Hella Joof and Peter Frodin, while also gaining recognition for his flm score compositions. Notably, Bak composed the music for the TV series Forbrydelsen and the US remake The Killing, sparking a 25 year international career into the world of cinematic soundtracks.

William Frederick Gibbons is an American rock musician who is the guitarist and primary vocalist of ZZ Top. He began his career in the Moving Sidewalks, who recorded Flash (1968) and opened four dates for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Gibbons formed ZZ Top in late 1969 and released ZZ Top's First Album in early 1971. Gibbons possesses a gravelly bass-baritone singing voice and is known for his bluesy, groove based guitar style. He is also noted, along with ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill, for his chest-length beard. Gibbons has made appearances with other artists and acted on television shows, most notably Bones. In 2001, Rolling Stone named him the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time.