What a treat we were given on Saturday evening! We are blessed at St Mary’s by the musicianship which supports and uplifts our worship, and that blessing was fully in evidence with the performance by Paul Leddington Wright, ably supported by grandson Max and the special choir. Our organ may not be the largest or most glamorous in the Royal Borough but Paul certainly made it sing as he revealed and celebrated its capability through the works of composers from Bach to Elgar. The combination of organ and choir in ‘Finlandia’ was a particular highlight.
“Wonderful,” was an often-repeated response from the large audience who joined enthusiastically in the hymn singing which interleaved the organ pieces. The personal introductions by audience members explaining their choice of hymns were spiritually poignant and courageous. “I do love it when he gives it some welly,” was another comment which captured our appreciation of the organ’s unique power and Paul’s ability to engage his listeners.
A special delight for Penny and me was the final piece, ‘Widor’s Toccata’, which Paul played from memory and to which we walked down the aisle after our wedding five decades ago.
One audience member, having heard Paul on a similar occasion in 2023, said that he could not possibly have missed this sparkling evening, and might it become an annual event . . . ? Thank you, Paul, and all those who supported musically and by providing interval refreshments. It was yet another demonstration of music’s power to speak to our emotions and to our spirit. A guest who anticipated rating the evening as 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 was so thrilled that she gave it 11!