[…]

Benedicti has shown with the “Choral prelude BWV 654” what stems from the conjunction of the outstanding Northern German style and of the Italian mood…

Also in this piece there is a prevalence of the coloured tones from the figurate melodies of the Bach’s late Leipziger Choral “Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele”. Benedicti, from Turin, and Schmitt that, born in Saarland, has studied in Saarbrucken, Boston and Paris, has revealed to be very experienced. They have both employed the tubular bells of Michaels organ in the cathedral for pieces of unique character: Benedicti in the late Romantic “Meditation in a cathedral” by the Italian Bossi […]  

RAPSODIA E RICICLAGGIO

Luca Benedicti e Christian Schmitt agli organi della cattedrale

RAPSODY AND RECYCLING

Luca Benedicti and Christian Schmitt at the organs of the cathedral

[…]

The Italian organist Luca Benedicti has made the “Prière” by César Franck a genuine lyric expression; in that piece the considerable initial effort towards a prayer displays a tone that resembles that in the last work by Widor “Symphony n. 7”.  The Belgian composer Flor Peeters shows himself some affinity with the French organ style through his “Toccata, Fugue and Hymn op. 28” composed in the thirties of the last century on “Ave Maris Stella”, and this in particular in the typically French Toccata already explored by Widor.  So both the organists has provided inspiring recitals characterized by enjoyable similarities. Benedicti has played the “Prelude in h-moll BWV 544” like a musical speech, signifying dramatic power and wide ranging.