Toronto – OLIVIER LATRY, one of the great concert organists of his generation, appears in solo recital on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 12 Noon as part of Roy Thomson Hall’s 11^th Annual Free Noon-Hour Choir & Organ Series. The occasion coincides with Mr. Latry’s appearances at Roy Thomson Hall on April 16 and 17 as soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under maestro Peter Oundjian. Mr. Latry last appeared at Roy Thomson Hall in recital and with the TSO in 2005.

Olivier Latry will perform a selection of masterworks by five French composers, plus J.S. Bach’s glorious Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor. He concludes his program – in true French tradition – with an improvisation based on a musical theme to be provided to him only moments before his recital! Regarded as one of today’s greatest organ "improvisateurs," at his 2005 recital he dazzled his audience and scored big-time with a spectacular on-the-spot set of five improvised variations on the "Hockey Night in Canada" theme.

In 1985, at the age of 23, Olivier Latry stunned the musical world by winning a competition to serve as one of three titular organists of the great Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. This year, he celebrates his 23rd anniversary in this prestigious post. Mr. Latry is also Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory. Born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, Mr. Latry began piano studies at the age of 7, organ studies at 12, and at 19 was named titular organist at Meaux Cathedral, a position he held for four years before winning the coveted post at Notre-Dame Cathedral. He has performed throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and the USA and has a discography of more than 50 recordings. Most recently, on the Deutsche Grammophon label, he recorded the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen, the organ music of César Frank, and Midnight at Notre-Dame, an album of organ transcriptions.

This one-hour recital is the concluding event of Roy Thomson Hall’s 2007-2008 season of noon-time presentations. The annual four-concert series features prominent choral ensembles and organists, and also spotlights one of the largest mechanical-action instruments in Canada – Roy Thomson Hall’s magnificent Gabriel Kney Organ, a four-manual, dual-console pipe organ with 5,207 pipes and 71 stops. The series is made possible by the continuing generous support of Edwards Charitable Foundation.