Reviews of CDs and Concerts
“She is a phenomenal player and is regarded as probably the foremost female organist in the UK. Although the Duruflé organ works have been recorded many times these are the first time for them to appear in the Priory catalogue and a more thrilling and thoroughly musical performance will be hard to find. The organ at Durham is ideal in the hands of Massey’’
“This is a very enjoyable programme of twentieth century works from Britain, France & Scandinavia given by the current assistant organist at Durham. Francesca Massey uses the cathedral organ to great effect in performing this mostly unfamiliar repertoire”
“As the title suggests this is a virtuoso organ recital from a brilliant young organist…. This is her first commercial CD for Priory and the programme is centred around Oskar Lindberg’s superb Sonata. Massey’s playing is accomplished, exciting and the recital is a tour de force on one of Britain’s most versatile instruments’’
‘‘The exciting syncopations, jazzy harmonies and cascades of notes make this an exciting disc… Eben’s Sunday Music are given energetic, spirited performances…Roger-Ducasse’s Pastorale is a huge workout for organ and organist; it receives a magnificent account, with all the colours, rhythmic dexterity and various moods on display.’’
‘‘Francesca Massey makes Durham Cathedral rock in this outstanding collection… the instrumental couleurs demanded by Duruflé are faithfully reproduced…Furthermore, a balletic facility is called for, not least in the Scherzo. Francesca Massey carries all this off with considerable ease.’’ (Duruflé CD review, Church Music Quarterley, September 2020)
‘‘Organ, music and player meet here in an almost perfect union… She handles Durham Cathedral’s vast resources with taste and imagination… Needless to say, she is fully equal to the considerable demands of this music, whether technical or interpretative. I recommend this CD most warmly.’’ (Duruflé CD review, Cathedral Music magazine, November 2020)
‘‘Francesca Massey brings two special qualities to her survey of Maurice Duruflé’s complete organ works: some impressively clean and articulate fingerwork and the organ of Durham Cathedral’’
‘‘The choices are enterprising... Space is also found for a number of fine works which are seldom heard…receiv{ing} a performance of complete technical command and conviction. This is an unusual and well-assembled programme which adheres to a general mood of celebration, but contains sufficient variety to allow the listener to enjoy the experience of a complete musical journey. The recent organ of St Edmundsbury Cathedral sounds splendid and bigger than its 59 speaking stops might suggest. A most enjoyable recording.’’
‘‘Francesca Massey proves to be a hugely gifted accompanist, using the Durham organ’s vast resources with intelligence and restraint, and letting rip in a fervent account of the Te Deum by Jeanne Demessieux’’
‘‘Another winner from Priory. Here is a cleverly-chosen, varied, intriguing selection of what might fairly be termed unfamiliar and unjustly-neglected music…admirably performed and recorded. It is a disc of music chosen to lighten the heart - at the conclusion of which, the listener emerges aurally and spiritually refreshed… delight in performances by this exceptionally-gifted artist… A truly delightful disc.’’
“She plays with virtuoso…but she is in no hurry. Her playing is conscientious, lively and intense, with an eye for detail. Also, in the technically difficult Toccata of the Suite Op. 5, she keeps her head cool’’
‘Francesca Massey, in this the last of the cathedral’s summer recitals, demonstrated how to blend and mix this massive selection of colours to create a fascinating and detailed musical landscape’’
‘…They exemplify Francesca Massey’s assured execution and interpretation and how deftly she switches between moods and characters… some especially gorgeous timbres are drawn from the instrument… this is contemporary organ music of real appeal. All in all, this disc is as impressive as it is enjoyable. Brava!’ - Organists Review, Sept 2023
“Quite simply this is a most auspicious debut disc. Massey has a most persuasive way for shaping phrases and the music flows beautifully. Neil Collier, no stranger to Durham has produced a recording of character and clarity. I am very pleased to recommend this CD whole-heartedly’’ Editors Choice - Organists Review
“Diptyque is beautifully played here by Francesca Massey… The performance of William Mathias’s Variations on a Hymn Tune op. 20 is outstanding… This is a fine addition to the recorded collection of Great British Organs. It presents a diverse and imaginative programme that is superbly played and finely recorded. It will be a ‘must’ for all organ enthusiasts’’
“Massey presents a thoughtful account of John Stanley’s Voluntary in D minor, op.5 no.8, with a magical opening allegro, and a restrained ‘adagio’ followed by an exuberant fugal-tinged finale… I enjoyed the sound quality of this disc and it passed the test of ‘like being in the church’. Francesca Massey has provided a varied and interesting programme that showcases the features of this splendid and historically important organ”
“With an emphasis on the late romantic, tipping into the modern, the recital gives us an opportunity to hear a developing virtuoso, at ease in the rapid whirls of sound in the later music by Egil Hovland and Francis Pott, but who is nonetheless deeply sensitive to the sonority of the organ and the acoustic of Durham Cathedral… Most exciting of all is the serious tone but kaleidoscopic palette of Matthias’ Variations on a Hymn Tune, a wonderful concert piece for Francesca Massey, who draws deep expressive colour from the instrument, discoursing between the different reeds of the swell and choir in the central movements, and showing off the spatial separation between tubas and swell and great choruses in the last movement, giving a real sense of being at the heart of a major orchestral exploration on the organ”
“This is the first commercial recording of this little known organ. In choosing repertoire, the objective was to showcase the diversity of the instrument’s resources. The original Snetzler stops feature largely in the 18th century repertoire whilst the remainder highlights the more recent additions to the specification, and the versatility of the organ as a whole.
Massey's playing of the early repertoire is particularly engaging however she is equally at home in the 20th century literature. This instrument is well worth hearing and this disc admirably reflects its quality and versatility’’ Editors Choice - Organist Review.
“Cathedral sub-organist Francesca Massey, performing at Durham Cathedral’s organ recital series, gave a refined performance that took nothing for granted as she laid out the score in all its glory. The pictorial work was vividly depicted, with Massey depicting bold impasto strokes and finer detail with equal elan… The Power of The Word was conveyed with overwhelming authority by thundering pedal melody and scintillating fanfare’’
‘‘It’s quite hard to persuade the Union Chapel’s 1877 Henry Willis to be ‘French’ – its forthright sound is designed to fill all corners, rather than waft Parisian refinement. But Francesca Massey’s skilful phrasing and deft changes of mood between pieces were in much in evidence throughout, especially in her playing of the first two items on the programme, chosen for their seasonal suitability’’