This CD is the last release in Priory's series devoted to Vierne's symphonies. The series has shown that it's not necessary to have a French organist playing a Cavaille-Coll instrument to achieve a satisfying performance of this music. The Willis/Harrison organ at Durham has all the appropriate colours, a thrilling tutti, and it's superbly recorded by Priory.
It was an imaginative piece of programming to couple Alain's compositions alongside the Vierne symphony. Both composers have a highly original harmonic language which is as advanced as Debussy's innovations. Both men had a profound influence on future generations of French organist-composers, and Messiaen in particular acknowledged his debt to Alain.
The Lancelot/Durham/Priory partnership has already produced some outstanding choral and organ CDs, and as is to be expected Lancelot makes light work of Vierne and Alain's awesome challenges. Possibly everything sounds a little too effortless, with the result that in the Vierne symphony we don't quite get the full drama of the faster movements, or the poetic languor of the slower passages. I feel the Alain pieces receive marginally finer performances; nevertheless, throughout the CD there's playing of real flair and virtuosity from one of Britain's finest cathedral organists. Mention should also be made of the excellent insert-notes which accompany the CD.'