Many collectors will instinctively be drawn to Ben van Oosten's choice of a genuine French organ.
And not just any old French organ, but one of the finest extant Cavaillé-Colls captured in a recording of exemplary clarity, depth and presence.
Against Jeremy Filsell's incisive precision and intensity (see above) van Oosten seems somewhat flabby and cumbersome. But his is a performance which exposes the very heart of Dupré's creation.
The work was originally conceived as an improvisation to accompany spoken verses from Paul Claudel's Le chemin de la croix. Van Oosten re-creates a tangible feeling of a 'living improvisation' and portrays a compelling sense of emotional reflection and musical response to the drama of these 14 scenes. Despite rare opportunities for open exhibitions of virtuosity or bravura display, Le chemin de la croix places as daunting and formidable technical demands on the player as any of Dupré's works. But here those technical demands are overshadowed by van Oosten's powerful visionary zeal, hauntingly revealed in the portrait of the disconsolate Mary (Station IV), the nervous energy of Simon the Cyrenean as he attempts to bear the burden of the cross (Station V), and the compassion of Jesus as he comforts the tormented women of Jerusalem (Station VIII).
A release to be wholeheartedly recommended whatever the competition.