Carlo Curley (b. 1952, North Carolina, USA) is a flamboyant and popular concert organist, sometimes characterised as the "Pavarotti of the organ". He is one of only a few concert organists world-wide who supports himself exlusively by concertizing, without supplement by teaching or titular organ position. 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ... An organist is a musician who plays the organ, whether pipe or electronic. ...
Curley was born into a musical family and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts. He studied organ with Virgil Fox, and Sir George Thalben-Ball. His basic aproach to concertizing most closely resembles Fox, though not quite as overtly histrionic, and with fewer lapses in good taste in most instances. The North Carolina School of the Arts is an internationally recognized conservatory of the performing arts located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. It was the first state-supported residential school of its kind in the United States of America. ... Virgil Fox (May 3, 1912âOctober 25, 1980) was a renowned organist, known especially for his flamboyant Heavy Organ concerts of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach for audiences more familiar with Rock and Roll music, staged complete with light shows. ... Sir George Thomas Thalben-Ball (18th June 1896 - 18th January 1987) was an English organist and composer. ...
Curley was famously the first classical organist to give a solo organ recital at the White House, and he has also played for several European heads of state. He has toured extensively throughout the world, and has a large and loyal following. The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ...
He uses a substantial Allen touring organ where the venue lacks an instrument of sufficient scope to support the repertoire. Although unashamedly populist, he is acknowledged as a gifted classical organist with an engagingly good-humored interpretive style and a sparkling sense of registration in many pieces, marred only occasionally by his habit of playing some well-known works at a breakneck tempo (cf: Virgil Fox). He has very succesfully recorded much of the classical organ repetoire. Allen Organ Company is the worlds largest builder of organs. ...
CarloCurley has played before crowned heads of Europe, including the late Princess Grace of Monaco, the Princess Royal of England, and several Command Performances for the Danish Royal Family.
Curley has made innumerable appearances for the BBC including organ spectaculars from the Cathedrals at Ely, Lichfield, Norwich, Guildford and Gloucester.
CarloCurley records exclusively for Decca International, including CDs and the first-ever commercial video of a classical organ performance, Organ Imperial.
He is one of only a few concert organists worldwide who supports himself exclusively by giving recitals, without supplement by teaching or titular organ position.
Curley was born into a musical family and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Curley was famously the first classical organist to give a solo organ recital at the White House, and he has also played for several European heads of state.