Pipe Organs in Paris
 

Which pipe organs in Paris do you recommend, and are there regular times for concerts?

I've heard the organ at St.Sulpice a couple of times and it's very dramatic. I think regular concerts are Sundays at 11:30 am.

We also went to a mass to hear this organ. (Hate to admit it) After the postlude, the organist invited people up into the loft to see the organ. Very nice! The organist talked to us in three languages. What a talented man.

By all means hear the St. Sulpice organ.

The St-Sulpice organ is very famous, definitely one of the best in Paris and the world. Other churches with famous organs in Paris are Notre-Dame, Saint Eustache and Saint Merri. Saint-Eustache's is huge, by the modern organbuilder van den Heuvel. The one in St-Sulpice was rebuilt by the famous French organmaker Cavaille-Coll (as was Val de Grace, that is a good one, also; he did Notre Dame's, also). St Merri's is by Cliquot, but I don't think it was rebuilt by Cavaille-Coll, as the one in St-Sulpice was. There are also a lot of concerts in the Madeleine church, but it's not as good (organ or venue for sound IMO). Cliquot and Cavaille-Coll are two of the most famous organmakers, as well as van den Heuvel now.<BR><BR>Just check an entertainment guide for listings when you get there, many tend to be late Sunday afternoon, around 4 pm. Often there will be an organ recital at 4 pm at the Madeleine and Saint-Eustache, and perhaps less frequently on Sun afternoon at some of the other churches. There are regular free organ recitals at Notre Dame at 5:15 pm on Sunday.<BR><BR>There are frequent 4 pm Sun concerts at St-Sulpice (and some in the evening, also at Val de Grace) which usually have more than just the organ for some of the program == such as a vocalist or flutist. I think an organ recital alone is typical around 11:15-11:30 between masses on Sunday. Their schedule is online at www.stsulpice.com

My vote is for St-Sulpice. I returned about 2 weeks ago. It is truly impressive.