Dupre is being well served by record companies at the moment. Naxos and Guild are working their way through the complete organ works, and last year Hyperion issued Vol. 2 of John Scott’s performances at St Paul’s Cathedral (A/98). This Trotter recording from Decca is a welcome addition to the Dupre discography, consisting as it does of four of the finest compositions.
I suspect that the composer would have been delighted by Trotter’s virtuoso performances. Dupre’s own recordings were marked by their clarity of articulation, rock-steady rhythm and a willingness to disregard his own tempo and metronome indications. Like Dupre, Trotter isn’t afraid to play faster than the printed speeds; this adds to the drama of Symphonie-Passion and the sense of fun in the Noel Variations. Trotter’s flair for pacing is evident in the outer movements of the Second Symphony; he knows exactly when to hold back and give the music space, and when to surge ahead to telling effect. Dupre’s registration markings are scrupulously observed, and Trotter contributes his own ideas of colour with magical effect towards the end of ‘Nativite’ (Symphonie-Passion) and ‘Berceuse’ (Suite bretonne).
My only reservation about this CD is the recorded sound of the organ, which is a little too recessed in my view (a pity, because it has all the appropriate colours and suitable grandeur). However, if you find the sound acceptable, then this disc, with its excellent accompanying booklet, can be warmly recommended as a thrilling experience.'