German organist and composer Annie Bloch will present an evening of original improvisations on the experimental organ LIMINARE at the Église du Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus in Montreal on February 28th as part of Nuit blanche à Montréal 2026.
Bloch, based in Cologne, Germany, will perform as part of “Ambient Organ Night,” presented by Les Vespérales de l’orgue du Sacré-Cœur in collaboration with Suoni per il popolo and the Canadian International Organ Competition, with support from the Goethe-Institut. The event, which begins at 9:00 PM, will also feature performances by Earth World Collaborative, Secondsight, and André Pappathomas.
Bloch’s performance, titled “luvt,” focuses on the sound realm of the chest organ, utilizing only three stops of wooden pipes. According to promotional materials, “luvt” – derived from the German word for “to turn to the wind” – aims to create a novel imaginary space and reveal a delicate yet powerful facet of the pipe organ. Bloch combines mechanical stop manipulation with electronic manipulation to achieve what she describes as a “wholesome musical experience.” Her album “luvt” is scheduled for release on OOH-sounds in Florence, Italy, in fall 2026.
The Goethe-Institut Canada describes Bloch as exploring “states of change” in her composed improvisations. The event is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $15. Reservations are recommended.
Earth World Collaborative, featuring organists and composers Joel Peters and Adrian Foster, will explore the resonances of the pipe organ through sound transformations using dynamic wind and live electronic sound processing. Secondsight, a multidisciplinary creative and meditation teacher, will perform an immersive ambient drone installation with the LIMINARE organ at 1:00 AM.
Annie Bloch is also scheduled to perform an organ solo at the Église du Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus on March 7th as part of Les Vespérales. She has upcoming performances in Leipzig and Berlin in February, prior to her Montreal engagements.
