Patrick Geel at the organ of Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille
Standing ovation for Patrick Geel’s dynamic performance of the Bach Toccata & Fugue in D minor BWV 565
AUDITIONS DU MARCHÉ 2025-2026
Grand Orgue de Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille
Standing ovations for Patrick Geel at the end of his performance of JS Bach’s D minor Toccata and Fugue, then again after Widor’s well-known Toccata from his Fifth organ symphony, the final piece in his programme at the Grand Orgue de Notre-Dame du Mont, Marseille; the organ was built (1847-49) by Pierre-Alexandre Ducroquet.
Patrick Geel’s programme showed the evolution of the toccata from an improvisation designed to show the sonic and musical capabilities of the instrument to an essential part of the organ repertoire, particularly for the French musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century.
These were dynamic performances by a musician who plays this historic instrument regularly. It’s direct mechanical action; Patrick Geel used static registrations for the first three pieces, including clever use of couplers. For the Bach and the Widor he put plenty of emotion into the familiar music. Dynamic in performance but quite traditional in registration over the two keyboards and the pedal board. The video screen showed in the Bach and the Widor how the written music allows for the musician and his assistant to pull and push stops. And of course he was playing the acoustic, either playing fast to override it or playing the pauses to include the reverb.
The Ducroquet instrument has many very bright stops, quite unlike the style of an English cathedral organ. A versatile set of 8’ and 16’ pedal stops, including a frumpy 8’ Trompette (trumpet) that Patrick Geel used just once, the call announcing the recapitulation in the Widor.
Patrick GEEL, Organiste de Saint Victor et de Notre Dame du Mont, Marseille
Toccata - Gaston BELIER (1863 - 1938)
Toccata prima- Johann SPETH (1664 - 1720)
Toccata per l’elevazione - Girolamo FRESCOBALDI (1583 - 1643)
Toccata et fugue in D minor - Johann-Sebastian BACH (1685 - 1750)
Toccata - Charles-Marie WIDOR (1844 - 1937)
Frustrated biker
Big selfie smile in a biker gear superstore in Italy after seeing lots of bikes on the road in Cuneo and Piemonte. A Fireblade or a Rossi replica on every street corner is an exaggeration but that’s the impression. And stylish scooters everywhere.
Driving a hired Sandero is sensible for us both but so boring, being passed by every biker on the road, their quickshifting echoing round the rocks. Even more frustrating on Alpine pass roads which are brilliant to ride on two wheels. One of the dozen or more zigzags on the Col de Larche is a double first gear hairpin, what fun!
We find the frontier town Barcelonnette is full of bikers on the Saturday night then riding the Col de la Cayolle in groups on a fine Sunday morning. Lucky them enjoying the fine weather riding.
Cuneo
Viadotto Soleri - del «grande viadotto sulla Stura» - Cuneo
The amazing Soleri viaduct bridging the Stura di Demonte river in Cuneo, Piemonte. Construction was difficult and the mixed-use bridge was finally completed in 1937 then reopened after war damage in 1948. The Y-shaped viaduct carries road, tram and railway traffic. It’s the final bridge in the Cuneo-Ventimiglia/Nice railway which includes a new station on the plateau at the centre of Cuneo.
More photos: Viadotto Soleri - del «grande viadotto sulla Stura» - Cuneo
Saluzzo
My interpretation of the Via San Giovanni in historic Saluzzo in Piemonte. This angle of view does not exist so I have painted the elements in a montage of a number my photos (so not AI).
Cirque glacière du Gioberney - Parc national des Écrins
Hike to the Lac de Lauzon (1998 m.) to enjoy views of the Cirque glacière du Gioberney at the head of the Valgaudemar valley in the Écrins. The cirque is surrounded by a number of peaks of more than 3500 m. and their glaciers. A wonder to walk this landscape early after the snow melt when the footpaths become practicable again without technical alpinism.
More photos: Cirque glacière du Gioberney - Parc national des Écrins
Cabane libre de Boustigue, 1321 m. - Écrins
Cabane libre de Boustigue, 1321 m.
Reached by an enjoyable hike from the Route Napoléon at Corps, hiking through forest then alpages, the Cabane libre de Boustigue enjoys a peaceful location at 1321 m. altitude, with idyllic views, particularly of the Grande Tête de l’Obiou (2790 m.) and the Lac du Sautet.
Arles - May 2026
Photographs from a walk around Arles. My photographic reactions on this day to the many inspiring shapes, textures and views among these ancient streets of the Provence town which is well-known to photographers.
April showers in May! Lake District National Park
Ride out from Keswick on my Rockhopper hardtail mountain bike. It started out dry, first Brundholme Wood. I headed on up the Glenderaterra Valley to explore the disused mine workings. But I got caught by a rain/hail shower and then another sharp shower. April showers in May! Paths slippery but grand views of the landscape and clouds.
More photos: April showers in May! Lake District National Park
Skiddaw and Blencathra circuit - Lake District National Park
Tour of Skiddaw and Blencathra via Caldbeck and Uldale Fells on my Ninja Z250SL. Disappointing Cumbria weather although my visor stayed dry despite the low cloud. Quiet roads these, they’re off the top of the maps the tourists use and there’s only one lake, Over Water. Big rolling moors as the Skiddaw Massif gives way to the Solway Firth. Plenty of sheep with lambs and I also spotted a deer. One of the routes the CRF300 Rally was really good for (but it didn’t do so many others).
More photos: Skiddaw and Blencathra circuit - Lake District National Park
Four glorious days riding in Provence
Dawn in Marseille
So lucky with the weather: warm and dry with little wind for four glorious spring days. Riding out from Marseille through classic Provence; through the techno new towns in the Durance valley, then Apt and the Lubéron. The Gorges de la Nesque are less well-known than the Ardèche but the road is at least as challenging.
Riding on to the villages at the foot of Mont Ventoux, Bédoin and Malaucène, on a route which to be used for motorsport rallies but is now given over to cyclotourisme. On to Vaison-la-Romaine and booking in at a charming old hotel in Nyons in the Baronnies Provençales.
Siegfried - Royal Opera, Covent Garden
Tonight’s First Night of Siegfried had to be one of the most fantastic staging and singing ever of Siegfried’s forging song. Andreas Schager’s characterisation of the wild boy Siegfried smelting and forging using machines that look Heath-Robinson but appear convincing in their metalworking functions was utterly compelling. He gave us muscular singing, sparks from the anvil, juggling with forging hammers and joyous characterisation with the vitality of the youth who knows no fear. One of the great Siegfrieds and a highlight of the whole cycle.
Cilaos crater hike, Forêt du Grand Matarum GR R1 - Parc national de La Réunion
Piton des Neiges (3070 m.), view from Cilaos (1150 m.)
View of Cilaos village from GR R1. Indian Ocean horizon beyond the crater.
Hiking up the inside of the volcanic crater from the town of Cilaos on the GR R1 long-distance hiking route. This, the Forêt du Grand Matarum, is primal tropical forest, never harvested. But all the species have arrived from somewhere since the volcano went quiet so there’s a hotchpotch of trees and plants we know from Europe plus many from elsewhere.
More photos: Cilaos crater hike, Forêt du Grand Matarum GR R1 - Parc national de La Réunion
