Organ Summer at Hallgrímskirkja  

David Cassan organ  

St. Etienne de Mont, Paris, France

Internationally renowned organist, David Cassan, is one of the leading young organists of his generation. He studied organ, composition and improvisation at Caen Conservatoire and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris and Lyon. Today he leads a busy schedule performing as a soloist with prestigious ensembles (such as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de Lyon, Capitole de Toulouse) throughout France and throughout the world (Germany, England, Russia, China, Israel, Latvia, Estonia, Spain, Iceland, Czech Republic, Uruguay, Holland, Ireland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia).

Renowned and praised by critics, David Cassan has a vast repertoire, with a preference for J.S. Bach and French works of the 19th and 20th century. A brilliant and creative improviser, Cassan often accompanies silent films on the piano and organ.

David Cassan has been awarded a dozen international first prizes including Chartres (France), St Albans (UK), Haarlem (Holland), and also the Grand Prix Jean-Louis Florentz of Académie des Beaux-Arts (France). These numerous awards make him one of the most distinguished organists of his generation.
A renowned pedagogue, he regularly gives masterclasses around the world (St Petersburg, Beijing, Bern, Milan, Lausanne, Zagreb, Porto, Paris, Mallorca etc.). Cassan teaches organ at Nancy Conservatoire and improvisation at Saint Maur-des-Fossés Conervatoire. He also adjudicates often for French and international competitions.

In 2017, Cassan became organist at l’Oratoire du Louvre (Paris). In 2025, he succeeded Thierry Escaich as co-titular organist of the great organ of St Etienne du Mont in Paris; the organ of French composer Maurice Duruflé.

Website: www.davidcassan.com

Program

Maurice Duruflé (1902–1986)
Prélude et fugue sur le nom d’Alain

Henri Dallier (1849–1934)
Úr / From 5 Invocations
– Stella matutina
– Electa ut sol

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Saint François d’Assise – La prédication aux oiseaux
(Transcription: Camille Saint-Saëns, 1835–1921)

Thierry Escaich (1965-)
Versets sur le Victimae paschali

David Cassan (1989-)
Improvisation

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA – YOUR PLACE IN REYKJAVÍK