Stefan Donner (Vienna)
Peter Planyavsky: Toccata alla Rumba
Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata C Minor, BWV 526 – Largo
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Sonata no. 4
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Andante F Major, KV 616
Félix-Alexandre Guilmant: Sonata no. 1 – Final
This recital begins with the rousing and dancelike Toccata alla Rumba by renowned Viennese organist Peter Planyavsky, who by coincidence has also recorded all Mendelssohn’s organ music, for we are also to hear Mendelssohn’s fourth organ sonata, written as a result of his immense popularity in England. We have two short movements by two great names: the slow movement of Bach’s second Trio Sonata and an elegant Andante by Mozart. Finally we are sent on our way rejoicing with Guilmant’s whirling Finale to his first sonata, a brilliant piece by a renowned player and teacher who once performed at St Mary’s church in High Pavement.
The concert runs from 1.10pm to 1.55pm.
Admission £5 at the door, or book online.
Feel free to bring your own lunch.
Stefan Donner earned degrees from the University of Music Vienna (with highest honors) where he studied organ, piano, and conducting. He also received a Master’s degree in organ performance from the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
Additionally, Stefan has participated in master classes with Olivier Latry and Joris Verdin amongst others. He notably received a 2014-15 Fulbright Scholarship to study organ and harpsichord with Edoardo Bellotti at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
Stefan is the recipient of various awards, including First Prize in the 2010 Franz-Schmidt-Organ Competition (Austria) and Third Prize in the 2011 Dublin International Organ Competition. Besides various radio and television recordings, Stefan has recorded several CDs – most recently Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the J. D. Dulcken Harpsichord (built in 1745) at the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments Vienna.
Stefan has performed extensively in Europe, Turkey, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia, Canada, the USA and in Australia. In 2017 he was invited to lecture on J. S. Bach’s organ Trio Sonatas at the Władysław Żeleński Secondary School of Music in Krakow, Poland. In August 2024 he also taught organ at the Conservatory of Almaty in Kazakhstan.
Donner’s previously held positions include Klosterneuburg Abbey and Franz Schmidt-Musikschule Perchtoldsdorf near Vienna. Since 2025 he has also been working as a piano instructor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
In 2019 he debuted at Musikverein Vienna with Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony in cooperation with the RSO-Orchestra Vienna.