Naji Hakim of Paris

His music is dramatic and challenging, and he’s one of the most promising talents on the international organ scene. This week on Pipedreams, we visit with Naji Hakim, who talks about his childhood in Lebanon and his youthful dream of becoming an organist. He’s realized this dream and proves it with performances recorded at the Parisian Sacred Heart Basilica, and in recital at Our Lady of Grace Church in Edina, Minnesota.

Music of Bach, Franck, Dupré, and Langlais, plus a cameo appearance by Naji’s equally talented wife Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet. A young lion of the organ, it’s Naji Hakim of Paris, this week on Pipedreams.

Listen to the program

Program Broadcast dates:

July 23, 2001

Music played in the program

J.S. BACH: Toccata & Fugue in F, S. 540

JEAN LANGLAIS: The Sun at Midday

CÉSAR FRANCK: Prayer

NAJI HAKIM: Vivo, from Symphony in Three Movements

MARCEL DUPRÉ: Scherzo, Opus 16*

NAJI HAKIM: Variations on Two Themes [1991]

NAJI HAKIM: Concert Paraphrase on America, improvisation

Naji Hakim was recorded in concert on October 13, 1989 (1988 Austin/Our Lady of Grace RCC, Edina, MN) and in sessions from 1988, 1990 and 1991, in Paris (1898 Cavaillé-Coll/Basilique Sacré-Coeur, Paris, France) while the cameo appearanc*e by his talented wife, Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet-Hakim, was recorded in concert on June 14, 1991 in Washington (1964 Möller; 2001 Goulding & Wood/National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC)

Commercial recordings by the both of the Hakims on the Priory, REM and Motette labels, several of which are included in this broadcast, are available from the Organ Historical Society

This program was originally issued as #9442 in October 1994.