Event: Concert

Wednesday, November 8, 2017 - 2:00pm

Organ Concert
Concert
At the Mighty Wurlitzer
Artist: 
Artists: 
Robert Wolfe
Ticket Prices and Information: 
£6 https://www1.ticketmaster.co.uk/the-mighty-wurlitzer-organ-concert-with-blackpool-08-11-2017/event/1F00532D8DEF157E?artistid=1411022&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=52 or http://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/events/robert-wolfe-mighty-wurlit
Robert Wolfe is recognised as one of the world’s leading interpreters of the theatre organ. Acclaimed for his sheer artistry, renowned for his musicality and showmanship, he is without question one of the top British organists. At the early age of sixteen, he became the youngest musician at that time to join the team of organists at the world famous Tower Ballroom, Blackpool/ After three years, in 1981, he was invited to inaugurate the Wurlitzer show at the Thursford Collection, near Fakenham in Norfolk . This “sight and sound spectacular” has come to be known locally, nationally and internationally. From early spring to late autumn, seven days a week, Robert draws large crowds who delight in his warm personality and his unique musical combination of meticulous accuracy and interpretative sensitivity. He released his first album back in 1980 , which, coincidentally, was made on the Blackpool Opera House Wurlitzer. Since then he has gone on to release over 30 albums on the Wurlitzer organ of the Thursford Collection in Norfolk, and similar instruments across the UK, USA and Australia. He took this solo position at the age of 19. However, the story really began for Robert at the age of eleven, or thereabouts with the gift of a small single keyboard bought as a Christmas present by his parents. In the beginning his non-musical roots meant playing wholly by ear, reading music came later. By the age of 14 he was playing a Compton theatre organ at a pub in Hertfordshire, plus other pubs and clubs in and around his hometown of Luton using his own portable Hammond electronic organ. Robert’s hopeless addiction to the theatre organ became apparent when a family summer holiday took them to Blackpool. A single visit to the world famous Tower Ballroom started this infatuation & who would have believed that two years later he would audition to join the team of organists playing for non-stop dancing. Better still he was accepted and became the youngest musician at that time to hold such a position. Robert’s music is often heard on BBC Radio 2 and he has been featured on TV. Highlights of these broadcasts include playing live for The National Lottery, with an audience of around 20 million people hearing the magnificent sounds of the Wurlitzer organ at Thursford. Recently he surpassed 1 million views on YouTube. During the winter months he performs concerts not only around the UK, but the USA & Canada, Australia , New Zealand and Europe. The Wurlitzer organ at the Opera House is the last new Wurlitzer organ to be installed in the UK. It was installed in 1939 in time for the theatre's opening and has a unique specification which was drawn up by Winter Gardens organist, Horace Finch. It was played on the theatre's opening night by the legendary Reginald Dixon and Horace Finch. It is just one of a handful of Wurlitzer organs in the UK still in it's original home which makes it rather special. It was restored to playing condition by Cannock Chase Organ Club over the winter of 2007/2008 and a series of concerts has been ongoing since, bringing some of the finest theatre organists in the world to perform at the Opera House.

Event Location

97 Church Street
Blackpool, Lancashire