International organist, Joseph Nolan

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is such a massive work that it’s rarely heard in Australia – but just last month St George’s Cathedral rang with the sound, with the West Australian giving all credit to the Cathedral’s organist and Master of the Choristers, Joseph Nolan

“Joseph Nolan had arranged the vital components for a successful performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio: the elite Cathedral Consort choir, four stellar soloists led by Sara Macliver and a baroque orchestra under concertmaster Paul Wright,” wrote reviewer Rosalind Appleby, mentioning that Nolan had overcome a recent 3-metre fall at the Cathedral to bring the event to its stellar conclusion.

Joseph has been with the Cathedral for three years and, as well as directing the renowned Choir, is Artistic Director of the Cathedral Concert Series.

Joseph Nolan is an internationally renowned organist, acclaimed for the sheer power, precision and musicality of his playing, and was appointed to Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal, St James’s Palace, United Kingdom in 2004. He broadcast with the choir on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM as well as playing at the Thanksgiving Service for Princess Diana at The Guards Chapel, broadcast on BBC Television.

Joseph also performed on numerous occasions at Buckingham Palace, most notably giving the inaugural recital of its refurbished Ballroom Organ. Joseph was the first ever organist to record a commercial CD of this instrument, in November 2006 for the Signum label. Gramophone Magazine, UK commented: “Nolan uses the organ to amazing effect … (and is) such an astute musician.”
This acclaim has led to Joseph being invited to record in some of the world’s premiere venues, including St-Sulpice, Paris and St-Ouen, Rouen. Most recently, he recorded the ten organ symphonies of Widor at La Madeleine, Paris in only seven nights. These well-received performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Radio France, and ABC Classic FM, amongst others.
Joseph’s latest disc from St-Sulpice, Paris for Signum Records has been particularly well received, winning the Star Recording award from The Organ Magazine. It was described by Gramophone Magazine as a “brilliantly played recital”, was also praised by other magazines and awarded Disc of the Week on Swedish national radio.

Joseph has toured extensively across Europe, Asia, North America, New Zealand, and Australia, including giving concerts in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, London, Melbourne and Auckland Town Halls, and for various US conventions including the Year of the Organ.

Joseph has also conducted and accompanied some of the world’s leading groups and musicians, including the King’s Singers at the Bad Homburg International Festival. Joseph also conducted the Hilliard Ensemble, St George’s Cathedral Consort and WASO players in a performance of Pärt’s Passio for the 2010 Perth International Arts Festival at Perth Concert Hall.

Joseph has recently returned from a tour of Germany which included giving a concert at the Stiftskirche, Landau, for the 20th International Orgelfestwochen Rheinland-Pfalz, a festival that attracts many of the world’s greatest organists.

Wider recognition within the State is sure to come in March this year, when Joseph Nolan makes his debut with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at the Perth Concert Hall. He will be soloist in the Poulenc Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony for the opening of the WASO Classics concerts.