GRAFTON PIANO & ORGAN - EVENTS: Allen Organ with Hector Olivera at Allentown Symphony Orchestra concert

This past Saturday and Sunday the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestra Diane Wittry, presented two unique concerts at Allentown's Miller Symphony Hall. Three works for organ played by Maestro Hector Olivera, put the magnificent Allen digital organ to the test - not an easy feat when up against a symphony Orchestra!

Organ works performed included Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 (the organ symphony), the world premiere of Concertino for Organ and Orchestra (by Eric Ewazen), and The Coronation March - Meyerbeer (from Le Prophets).

Hector Olivera playing Allen Organ in the band pit in Allentown

The Morning Call / Robert Cort

The 66-stop, 3-manual Allen organ spoke into the hall with true pipe-like realism through an ample array of 28-speakers. Under Hectors's masterful playing the organ performed from a role of subtle support to full organ, shaking the building - quite noticeably in the Meyerbeer and the Saint-Saëns’