Aberdeen will this week join in worldwide celebrations commemorating the centenary of the acclaimed French composer Olivier Messiaen.
The tributes will begin today (Oct 21) with Dr Florian Wilkes, the renowned international organist of St Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin, giving a recital of Messiaen's music in St Machar's at 7.30pm and in King's Chapel on Wednesday, October 22 at 5.15pm.
Those concerts will be followed by the rare opportunity to hear Messaien's Vingt Regards played by international pianist Peter Sievwright in St Machar's on Thursday, October 23 at 7pm. Accompanying lectures will be given by Dr Peter Tuite, a Messiaen specialist from Dublin.
All the events are taking place in conjunction with the 2008 Sound Festival, which runs from October 21 to November 17.
Organsier Dr Roger Williams, Master of Chapel and Cermonial Music and Organist to the University, said: "Wilkes and Sievwright are artists of international repute and will bring new dimensions to our centenary celebrations of one of the most important composers of the twentieth century - Olivier Messiaen.
"It will be a thrilling experience to hear these works in the medieval buildings of St Machar's Cathedral and our own University Chapel - an experience that will be remembered for a long time to come."
For more information on the Sound Festival visit http://www.sound-scotland.co.uk/