Sunday Concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in San Diego

 The Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park is the largest outdoor organ in the world.  It creates an incredible wall of sound.  The organ has 5,000 pipes and is over 100 years old.  It is used in a wide variety of concerts ranging from classical to rock music.  The concerts are free!

We went for the Sunday concert held weekly at 2 PM.  The organist was Raul Prieto Ramirez.  The program was excellent.  He opened with Bach's "Toccata and Fugue", one of the most famous pieces of classical music.  It was magnificent.  The program also included two pieces, transcribed for organ,  from "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky - "Baba Yaga" and "The Great Gate at Kiev".  These well known works sounded stunning on the organ.  The performance also included Debussy's "Clair de Lune".  It sounded surprisingly light and ethereal on the organ.  Prieto Ramirez is an excellent musician and it was a well-thought-out program for the general public.

It was very hot.  The Spreckels Organ Society has shade umbrellas for rent for $5.  It is worth it and supports the concert series.  The sides of the pavilion offer shade, but the acoustics aren't as good.  To find out the many programs offered at the pavilion go to the Spreckels Organ Society.  

                                                       

                                                A picture I took of the pavilion in the evening